By Kgalema Madopi
Edited by Tasmiyah Randeree & Imaan Moosa
“I refuse to dim my light or 'all in line’”. Moonira Ramathula shines bright, lighting a path on the road less traveled.
With her feet placed on the next step, Moonira Ramathula is a powerhouse. Born in Stanger and raised in Pinetown, the 45-year-old frontierswoman makes it known that the development of sport should be a woman’s playground.
Ramathula is the chairperson of the first South African rugby academy for women, the Gauteng Women’s Rugby Institute, which opened its doors on 3 March 2021. Alongside Jaco Coetzer and Babalwa Latsha, they established a program to hone the talent of young girls in ruby.
“I have always had a keen interest in rugby, having played touch rugby at school. I vividly remember the legendary Ian McIntosh coming to my high school to pick a few boys. In 2019, I had the pleasure of watching Babalwa [Latsha] load her team to a world cup qualification in Brakpan and I guess that’s when talks started with Jaco [Coetzer] about further developing women’s rugby in the province and the country. A year later, we made that happen.”
She is also the vice-president of the Gauteng Sports Confederation. She says the Sports Confederation grants her access to different sporting codes. Her interest, however, is firmly rooted in growing women’s participation in sports.
I firmly believe women should be given opportunities to participate in whatever sport they want, not just what is available.
A male-dominated sport is a challenge to break into, but the newly founded institute knocks the door down for women who deserve their rightful seat at the table.
I’m driven by the fact that I want to create an impact and affect change for women in sport. I believe that we can all contribute in our own little way to create a better future for the next generation of women [in sports]. I believe that little girls should dream of being anything they want to be and be allowed to do so.
In March 2021, she kicked off the inaugural Gauteng Women in Sports Awards.
Moonira Ramathula and Babalwa Latsha at the opening of the Gauteng Women’s Rugby Institute. Photo: Provided.
Ramathula pays tribute to the women who have walked the path before her:
I think first and foremost, we must be thankful for how far we have come, however, there is a lot more to be done, and done intentionally.
“We must empower female athletes to be [their own] brand through workshops, seminars and training programs, as well as maximizing revenue.”
We must be relentless in the pursuit of gender equality for women in sport, even when it becomes uncomfortable. We must hold federations accountable for their female sport properties and push them to work towards creating equal opportunities for men and women. They must also be held accountable in the ways they negotiate sponsorships [for their properties, both teams and athletes]. The days of hiding behind the sponsor are over. Sponsorship deals must include both men and women.
Ramathula’s journey into sports began with her role as a mother when she recognized a need for development, support, and education within her son’s football team.
This passion extended toward the creation of Futballing Girls, a non-profit company that encourages skills education, training, and creating opportunities for girls to participate in football.
She applies her motherly instincts to support and assist her son’s football team, proudly calling herself a “soccer mom”. She is committed to providing a guiding light for both boy and girl children in football.
“Twelve years ago, I started out as a soccer mom and I realized how many challenges women face in sport. It became my purpose-driven passion to empower women in sport. I am a very spiritual person and believe that at the right time, the Almighty led me to my purpose,” says Ramathula.
Her support for women and their achievements is reminiscent of her own upbringing. Her parents played a primary role in her success.
“A warrior” is the term her father uses to describe his daughter, and she reigns true to that. She is driven by her mother’s zeal to perform to the best of her abilities and carries herself with the same grace and poise.
Growing up with a strong sense of community, Ramathula believes in the core value of ‘I am because you are’, the ethical maxim of Ubuntu. This idea of community, which is based on putting others first before oneself, is at the heart of her initiatives.
In doing this, Ramathula seeks to recreate the feelings of security, support, and sisterhood impressed upon her growing up and forge a solidarity bond between women who are equally dedicated to the cause.
Moonira Ramathula and her partner. Photo: Provided.
“A united front is needed. We need each other in order to achieve equality for women. As women, we need to take the lead in creating platforms for women by documenting their stories and educating the next generation on great women athletes.”
Women should never be considered a side note. They should be celebrated for their achievements without reservation and we need to get to the point where we don’t say ‘female athlete’, ‘female footballer’, ‘female rugby player’, and just say ‘athlete’, ‘footballer’, ‘rugby player’ because they deserve the same respect.
A message to her younger self:
“I would tell her that it all works out. Don’t sweat the small stuff and keep putting everything you have into tasks you take up because it all pays off in the end.”
Follow and support:
Twitter: @MoonsRams
Instagram: @mooniraramathula
YouTube: Moonira Ramathula
Website: Futballing Girls
Facebook: Gauteng Women's RI