Women Boost SARU

The South African Rugby Union says the co-option of two women to their previously all-male Presidents Council is “a big step towards SARU’s declared intention to attract and involve more women, to serve in all structures of rugby administration in South Africa”.

Last week, businesswomen, Mandisa Kalako-Williams and Viwe Qegu were co-opted as independent members of the Presidents Council on a one year contract with full voting rights.

SARU’s Rayaan Adriaanse says: “The two women are highly successful business personalities in their own right, and the PC is confident that they will make a huge impact and contribution towards the development and administration of the game.”

Kalako-Williams, who is fluent in five official Southern African languages, holds a National Diploma in Public Relations and a Certificate in Disaster Management from the University of KwaZulu Natal, South Africa.

She has been at the forefront of organizational transformation at both the SA Red Cross Society, as a staff member in the early eighties to nineties, and at Spoornet in her nine years with them.

Qegu is a City Planning Scientist and a City Planner by profession, and holds a Master’s degree in City Planning & a BA (Law) as a junior degree.

Formally trained at the Development Bank of Southern Africa for three years as a trainee project manager, she later practiced as a city planner for the Centurion Town Council for over seven years, and progressed to the position of a Chief Development Planner of the City.

The question of the inclusion of women on the Presidents Council had been raised at various meetings of SARU, and the Presidents Council adopted a resolution in August 2006 to include two women by means of co-option.