I’d heard all sorts of scary things about the SAWIP selection camp from various alumni of the programme and, to be honest, some of it turned out to be true. When you put, as Kim Williams described, thirty three “strong leaders with similar capabilities but in [different fields]” at a campsite in Glencairn, add a competitive element and very little sleep, some fascinating things happen. The good thing is that those ingredients are bound to create an incomparable think-tank and, the weekend was a great networking and learning experience.

Legal Aid is provided to people across South Africa who require advice on civil matters and cannot afford to pay for the services of a lawyer. At Stellenbosch University, 28 of us final year law students consult at the Legal Aid Clinic under the supervision of admitted attorneys and candidate attorneys. Because I already spend time at the clinic daily, it seemed natural that I would record most of my SAWIP community service hours there.

The Independent Electoral Commission appoints officials in every ward to organize the voting station, conduct the voting, count the ballots and report the results to the head office. On Wednesday 18 May 2011- Municipal election day I, as a party agent, was privileged to observe the ballot counting at a particular Stellenbosch ward. The chief electoral officer of the ward, a woman, efficiently and tirelessly led the team of officials from 5am to 11pm on voting day. She was, as a DA party agent pointed out, the exact example of transformational leadership- the type of woman that people are increasingly looking to for community leadership.