Breaking Boundaries

In A World Full Of Gender Stereotypes, These Trailblazing Women Are Breaking Into Male-dominated Industries In A Powerful Way

- Nolwazi Dhlamini

LEVELLING THE PLAYING FIELD

TORN BETWEEN PURSUING MEDICINE OR SPORTS AS A TEENAGER, DR PHATHO ZONDI FINALLY FOUND THE PATH SHE’D BEEN LOOKING FOR AFTER HEARING A RADIO STATION INTERVIEW WITH PROF TIM NOAKES

' I always been fascinated by the human body, so I knew quite early ‘I’ve on that I wanted to study medicine. On the other hand, I’ve also always loved all kinds of sport and I’ve participated in at least three of them since the age of six. I grew up in an active family where everyone – Baba, Mama, bhuti and sisi – was athletic in their own right, so sports medicine was a natural fit for me. But I only learnt about the actual discipline quite late in high school. As soon as I became aware that it was a career choice, I knew that was the path I wanted to follow,’ explains Phatho.