Lowveld - Dec 2019

Text: Liezel Lüneburg. Photographer: TANYA ERASMUS
Vulani grew up in
the rural village of
Mhinga near Malamulele
in Limpopo,
and is extremely proud
of her Tsonga heritage.
She was raised by parents
Eric and Maria Baloyi, though her
mother sadly passed away when
she was 11 years old.
Vulani remembers her childhood
as a happy place where she was
raised in a caring environment by
not only loving parents, but also
an extended family. When listening
to her talking about family and
growing up, the real meaning of
“it takes a village to raise a child”
becomes clear.
She attended Kheto Nxumayo
Agricultural High School in
Siyandhani Village close to Giyani,
capital of the former Gazankulu.
“For some reason my father saw fit
to enrol me in an agricultural high
school. It was quite an experience,
but, I must add, no fun learning
how to slaughter animals!”
Her father (76), a retired policeman,
is a force to be reckoned with and
has made his own mark in the
history of South Africa. In 2018
the president, Cyril Ramaphosa,
awarded him the Order of
Ikhamanga for his contribution
to the development of boxing in
South Africa.
Vulani proudly tells how he has
not only trained numerous young
boxers through the years, but also
produced professional ones, such
as Cassius Baloyi, Isaac Hlatshwayo
and Jeffrey Mathebula. No wonder
he has raised a strong, independent
woman who is more than capable
of changing the world wherever
she goes.
After finishing matric, Vulani first
attended the University of Durban
Westville and later on the University
of Zululand where she obtained a
B.Juris degree. She is an academic at
heart, and also boasts both an LLB
degree and a master’s degree in law.
Her curriculum vitae is impressive,
and all her accomplishments and
qualifications are just too numerous
to include in one article, although
we cannot help but mention a
few. She holds a post-graduate
diploma in international law, which
she obtained as a full-time student
from the University of Melbourne
in Australia.
Vulani also boasts a vast knowledge
of land reform, environmental
law, indigenous law,
corporate governance, human
resources, contracts and financial
management.
At present, she is director of legal
services at the Mpumalanga
Provincial Treasury. Vulani is quite
satisfied with what the department
‘I enjoyed
teaching and
establishing a
love of law in
students, and
would like to
return to it’
has accomplished. “My 11th year
with the department also marks
the 11th year in which we have
received a clean audit,” she says.
And we all know that this is no
easy feat, and something to be
really proud of!
Notwithstanding the successes
achieved by the provincial treasury,
there are still many challenges
faced by municipalities, and
according to Vulani, they are
working hard to streamline all
processes and expenditure.
Although she enjoys doing what
she does, she would like to return
to teaching when the occasion
presents itself. “From 2003 to 2006,
I worked as a senior lecturer and
coordinator at the Department
of Environmental, Management
and Mining Law at the University
of Limpopo’s School of Law,”
Vulani says. “I enjoyed teaching
and establishing a love of law in
students, and would like to return
to the world of academics, where I
fit in perfectly as a lifelong student
myself.”
But she is not only making her
mark as a highly qualified legal
eagle. She is also a single mother
of Andile (23), a BCom intern, and
RJ (10), who she describes as
“the man of the house”. “It is
extremely important to raise
young men who are ready to
take their positions in life with full
responsibility,” she says.
“Men who do not take responsibility
are a huge challenge in
the modern world and in many
instances the problem lies with the
parents. Boys should know that
women play a very prominent role
on all levels of society and that
they need support.” According to
her, it is also important to teach
boys that household tasks are not
only the responsibility of women.
But how does Vulani balance a
very busy professional schedule on
the one hand and being a mother
on the other? “I try to keep my
professional worries and stress at
work while spending quality time
with my children when I am at
home.” This must not be easy, but
Vulani is an example of the fact
that this is indeed possible.
When asked whether she plans
to stay in South Africa despite the
present worries, Vulani is adamant
that she has a role to play in
combating the difficulties, not only
through sharing her knowledge,
but also through her involvement
in community work.
Details
Vulani can be contacted at 333arj1@
gmail.com
Vulani is dressed by Daphney
Makhubela of Lady Billions,
067-007-8128 /d@ladybillions.com
Make-up by Jessica of Effortless
Beauty, 079-114-1718
December 2019 Get It Lowveld 19