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DUT Alumnus Embraces the Brutal World of Politics

DUT Alumnus Embraces the Brutal World of Politics

Young and outspoken, Durban University of Technology alumnus Troy Martens is the new voice of the ANC Women’s League, a major political structure within the South African ruling party.

Martens, who graduated in 2008 with a National Diploma in Journalism from DUT, was recently appointed National Spokesman of the ANCWL, a challenge she embraced confidently.

“It’s an exciting opportunity. The ANCWL is the biggest and most well known women’s liberation movement in South Africa. Many people feel the league has been quiet over the past few years and I am excited to be its voice and get its campaigns and messages to the public domain,” she said.

Martens grew up in Pennington. She went to Pennington Primary and completed her matric at Scottburgh High School before heading to DUT. She started her journalism career at the Daily News newspaper and later worked for etv as a reporter.

While many people knew her for her work as a journalist before becoming Spokesman, Martens is not new to politics. She changed direction because she felt she could make a bigger impact working in the political environment.

“I served on the RCL at Grade 11 but I was exposed to party politics and became acutely politically aware at DUT. I studied politics under Kiru Naidoo and Imran Buccus for three years. I decided to get involved in student politics at second year and contested SRC elections as an independent candidate. I was the only none Sasco candidate who made it into the executive. I joined Sasco after I was elected because the organisation made the most sense to me and was welcomed with open arms into the ANC.

There (Sasco), I served my term as the SRC Deputy President. After that I started my journalism career and shied away from politics for a while in a bid to be an independent news reporter,” said Martens who found herself at Luthuli House four years later.

The ANCWL is an organisation that takes up women’s issues; violence against women being one of its main priorities. Martens said while the league does amazing work, the public will not know this without an effective voice.

“I believe that is where my role comes in; it’s my job to get the voice of the league out there. The ANCWL is concerned and vocal about issues of violence against women. The league is already seeing improvements in their communication and I believe people are listening. This is important as it means more South Africans can see it (the league) is working. Hopefully, this will inspire people to get involved in their own communities,” she said.

One of the leagues goals is to see the economic emancipation of women which, according to Martens, will only happen if women are afforded the opportunities and respect they deserve.

Looking to the future, Marten’s main focus is to elevate the ANCWL’s name and brand by giving it a relevant voice that people can listen to. “The Women’s League must be a vibrant lobbying platform for women’s issues and women’s rights. It must get people talking and sharing ideas on how to improve the lives of the women in this country. Personally, I plan to live every moment to the fullest and be open to any great opportunities or life experiences that come my way,” she said.

– Sinegugu Ndlovu

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