January 24, 2007
By Lucille Davie
REHANA Moosajee, the mayoral committee member for transportation, recently broke through a barrier and got her driving licence. She says that many women need to break through their own fearful barriers and become high achievers.
"They need to break through the fear. Instead they are always waiting for somebody else to acknowledge them, but they should be looking for the power within themselves."
Moosajee is one of five female mayoral committee members in the City, a perfect balance to the five male members, the first time the City has ever had an equal gender balance in its top structures. Joburg is setting an example for the country, following President Thabo Mbeki's call to promote women into top positions in government.
When asked what she thought female councillors brought to the running of the City, Moosajee says, "Women bring a people-centred focus to any sphere they design programmes with women and children in mind, they design for the whole of society."
"Most importantly, women bring the ability to support other women." And more - it's the ability to inspire confidence in other women by their example of coping in top positions. "We are showing that women are coping, as mothers and wives. We are showing that being a woman does not exclude you."
And to achieve this, she has put in place a system she hopes will restore people's confidence in the City's public transport system, as well as get them to respect the City's assets anything from buses and traffic signals to signage boards.
Five values
The system consists of five values: accountability, respect, ubuntu, honesty and co-operation.
Together with her staff, Moosajee will embark on an intensive outreach programme to communities and other role players. "The idea is to restore a culture of values. This is an opportunity to change mindsets and behaviour, and restore civic pride and care."
But there is a deeper desire, a reflection of what Moosajee herself stands for: "We want to take people deeper within themselves."
Talking to her it soon emerges that this is foremost in Moosajee's attitude to life to challenge herself, and hopefully city residents, to examine something deeper, something spiritual, within themselves. She has developed the values programme as "a woman, an educator and a mother".
Moosajee is concerned about "power relations on the road", where vehicles dominate because they are considered superior; pedestrians come in second.
It's the small things that will make a difference - like traffic calming around schools - that will change the kind of society we have become. The answer, she says, is through education, but it also lies in getting communities to work with the City for find solutions together, through "some level of introspection".
Readily admitting that people have lost confidence in the public transport system, a new system has been proposed to restore that confidence. Rea Vaya consists of some 300 kilometres of special public transport lanes and intersections, running north and south, east and west across the city, in which commuters will be able to switch easily from one form of transport to another.
Moosajee considers congestion to be one of the greatest challenges of her portfolio and hopes Rea Vaya will go some way towards relieving that congestion.
"Rea Vaya is a system that is safe, affordable and efficient," she explains.
Surprise appointment
Moosajee admits to being taken aback by her appointment in March last year after the local government elections. Speaking about her appointment, she says, "It was a huge surprise."
A councillor from 2000 to 2005, Moosajee qualified as a teacher with a BA Education degree from the University of the Witwatersrand. She has extensive experience in her community, particularly in the local Community Policing Forum, the school governing body, the local community newspaper and radio and in the South African Democratic Teachers' Union.
She is also a board member of the Living Values Education programme, endorsed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, Unesco. Moosajee also sits on the board of the Muslim Aids Programme and has been a guest at Gyan Sarovar, the Academy for a Better World, a spiritual university in India.
The education fraternity did not speak to her needs as a mother of two children, so she resigned from teaching. For example, when she asked about setting up a crθche at the school where she taught, it was "simply not possible". She was offered a job in the ANC parliamentary constituency office in Lenasia. When she said she had a young child, she was told she could bring her son along to work.
Moosajee's portfolio is particularly important in the run up to the 2010 Fifa Soccer World Cup. "It is very frightening," she admits, with a nervous smile.
But beneath this it's clear this is something she's ready for. "You have to go deep within yourself. Everything has been preparing you for this the contacts you have made, the networks you have established."
As a councillor, she has come to understand how complex issues are.
Confidence
"I am grounded in confidence within myself, and the mayor's confidence in me. I will do my best to deliver to the community."
Moosajee, who nine months ago admitted that she knew nothing about transport, says she has "grown phenomenally" in her knowledge of the subject. "I am honoured and enriched to interact and meet the wide range of stakeholders involved. I have a deeper understanding, and have been given amazing opportunities."
The ANC has done a lot for women by showing confidence in them, and investing in them. "Seeing male comrades stepping aside for women has been humbling."
Executive Mayor Amos Masondo has played a role too. Besides leading by example, his tireless efforts to make Joburg work have been uplifting. "He leads with a pace that is a challenge to keep up with."
Her time at the university in India has assisted her to focus on her own internal power, Moosajee says. "This is a role that we play here, not the essence of who I am. I have a quest to be the best I can be to use the time given on earth fruitfully."
But at the same time she says: "You have to accept that you can't be superwoman. You can't be everything to everyone."
Confidence, internal power, introspection, respect, fearlessness, accountability, honesty - these sound like superwoman qualities, however.
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