Posted:
by QW+ staff writer
The Company We Keep: Asanda Ngoasheng
Asanda Ngoasheng is the new chair of the Board of Directors for Quote This Woman+. She is also Expert 1: the first expert that QW+ signed up to its database back in 2019 when we started as a brand-new feminist media non-profit. Ngoasheng is a socio-political analyst with a focus on policy analysis, political events, political parties, elections, democracy, governance and active citizenship. Her analysis spans local, regional and global politics.
Pronouns: She/Her
Born: 18 July 1982 (sharing a birthday with Nelson Mandela)
Status: N/A
School: Clarendon Girls High School (East London)
University: Rhodes University (undergraduate + Honours), Wits University (Masters)
First job: At the SABC. I was radio producer on SAFM current affairs shows (then known as AM LIVE, Midday LIVE and PM LIVE). One of the shows I produced was the morning show with John Perlman and Nikiwe Bikitsha. Both were seasoned journalists and it was scary to produce their shows as a first job. In time I learnt and became more relaxed. I learnt so much about media, research, presenting, and building relationships from that job. One of the biggest lessons was that it’s not enough to know the CEO to get an interview; you have to know the PA and sometimes even the security guard at the office they work at, as they are often ignored gatekeepers and power brokers.
Home: I grew up in East London, lived in Johannesburg for ten years, and now have been living in Cape Town for ten years.
Transport: I drive my own car.
Book on your bedside table: I have recently finished reading the book Travellers by Helon Habila. This book has made me think a lot about immigration and its impact on those who flee their homes and those who receive refugees and asylum seekers, as well as who is called an immigrant and who is called an expat, and why.
Music in your playlist: Thandiswa Mazwai’s latest album, Msaki’s latest album, and Mandisi Dyatyi are on high rotation on my playlist.
Describe your job in no more than seven words: My work is about advocating for and centering social justice, whether I am facilitating, researching, speaking or doing political analysis.
What keeps you awake at night? The state of politics in South Africa, Gender Based Violence in South Africa, the genocide in Gaza, the changing global economic structure, poverty, inequality, hunger, and the climate crisis.
Who is your biggest hero? My biggest hero is my mother – cliched as it may sound. She worked hard to deliver the best life that she could for me and my sisters. She overcame many challenges as a black woman born in a rural village at the height of apartheid. Despite this, she laughed and found joy in the little things and preached peace, forgiveness and love. I am grateful for all the lessons she taught me and do my best to carry her essence and bravery and courage into my everyday life.
Remote or office? Remote
What’s the most exciting part of your job? Leading conversations about the state of politics in South Africa and the world and sometimes being one of the first people to hear about a big story that has just broken in the world.
Career highlight? There have been so many, but one of the biggest is the first time I was chosen as one of the official political analysts for SABC during South Africa’s 2019 elections. Others are being chosen for the Clive Mennel Media Fellowship and spending a month meeting media leaders at Duke University in 2007; then ten years later being chosen to be part of the Austrian Leadership Programme and spending a week meeting government and business leaders in Austria in 2018. And being chosen as one of the Mail and Guardian Power Women for Politics in 2024.
What is your superpower? My brain’s ability to move from one topic to the next and hold interest, because I have diverse interests and can deep-dive into topics from politics to media to education.
What is the least known fact about you? I worked in media behind the scenes for 10 years before I was a political analyst and in front of the cameras.
If you had the power to pass a presidential decree, what would it be? If you are found to be guilty of corruption, you must step down and not be considered for any future positions.
Your best piece of advice? You don’t have to go to every fight you are called for; you don’t have to use your voice in every situation. Sometimes the best contribution is listening and reflecting.
What’s your next big thing? I am working on a podcast which explores the connections we have as Africans.
What do you do to relax? Listening to music, reading a book, doing pottery.