NAS Women: “Zest for change” inspires me
Women's Month: Focus on Dr Sekelwa Cosa

Q: Job title and in which department/research entity do you work?
A: Senior Lecturer in the Division of Microbiology, Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology.

Q: What has been the highlight of your career?
A: My highlight(s) in my career path would be the all-inclusive growth /progression to where I am in my career stage and seeing an improvement to what any early-career academic envisions. In brief, the fortitude to being an independent researcher or principal investigator is no longer a blurred quest. Having a research space to accommodate postgraduate researchers is one of the best because it enabled my research niche. Now have a group of postgraduate researchers in the lab and keen to even host visiting or international researchers might not be a thing of the far future. There was a time when I started this journey, I attended every DRI workshop intending to grow and establish a niche, and now I am in a position where I can say, "It's getting there". On a sidebar, let me not take all the credit to myself and acknowledge the support from UP, BGM, NRF and MRC.

Q: What inspires you?
A: What inspires me most is the 'zest for change', not particularly in my personal life but in my surroundings. At a young age, I was drawn to black women in power set to make a change. The likes of Mrs Mlambo-Ngcuka, who I was fond of, I imagined change being possible due to a female occupying the Deputy President seat in SA. Ms Pandor, while as a minister of basic education (well, I was still at primary at the time) and two black women (names not mentioned) who once occupied the executive offices at the Tshwane University of Technology. This is to mention a few. Here I saw the change, inclusivity, not only beautiful women but intellectuals who can bring change. Change not only in academia or research or positions of power but paving the way for the upcoming young females or girls at primary or high school, just like I once was. The 'change' we foresee is not yet firm enough as it is still easily affected by many systems to eradicate the efforts made to manifest change. I then resort to "a little change that I can display in my surroundings might inspire another also to contribute a slight change in their surroundings".

Q: What challenges have you experienced in your career?
A: Just on top of my head, I think money, money and money. On a lighter note, research funds still hinder the progress. I am saying this because in academia and as a researcher, to move forward, your progress is also dependent on research funds - e.g. funds for assisting the postgraduate students during that tenure in your research lab. I don't know how many emails I have received just this year of candidates wishing to join my research group or from the other international institutions requesting to come to conduct experiments in my lab. The answer to those emails has been the same "Unfortunately I cannot accept because I do not have any bursary funds to assist you during the period under my research supervision."

Q: What message do you have for the youth of South Africa?
A: It's not easy to find a "one message fits all" to share will all the youth of South Africa as we are impacted differently by the challenges of life and at different stages of our life journeys, even career paths. A lot is of concern in SA. However, the first thing that comes to mind is the high rates of youths without jobs, some are postgraduates, and some even hold doctorates searching for "just" a job. I can only imagine because the times are more trying impacted or worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic. I'm reminded of the Biblical story (paraphrased) when Peter and his colleagues were fishing all night without success, tired of wanting to give up. Until Christ came and suggested that they "throw the net on the other side". While continuing the search for that job, consider exploring other avenues such as applying for that bursary or internship, volunteering, and any other…
In Xhosa, there is a saying "Suxoza mphini mnye" or "Sujonga calanye", which means "don't focus only on one thing, also try other things". I want to remind the youth of SA this quote "If you can't run, walk. If you can't walk then crawl. But in whatever you do, don't give up. Keep moving". Remain confident that things will turn out for the best.