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 "Decades of struggle by women intellectuals have shown that focused and well crafted joint strategies are the best means of reversing the discrimination that continues to be a part of higher education," says Science and Technology Minister, Nalendi Pandor. Hpwever, South Africa's academic landscape remains male-dominated.

On Monday, 30 July, loveLife launched the second series of Foxy Chix – an innovative radio series on Y-FM (99.2 FM) – that celebrates the power of female friendship, while offering a platform for young people around the country to express their views, be in control of their destinies and make the best choices for their lives.

Foxy Chix is a story of friendship between three teenaged girls - Noni, Jazz and S’bosh - who are navigating challenges similar to those faced by other young girls in communities across South Africa. The Foxy Chix are funny, ambitious, daring and fall in and out of love on their tumultuous journey to womanhood. They embody an attitude that is foxy – and that isn’t just about being sexy – it’s about being smart, bold, outspoken and destiny-bound.

Foxy Chix - a daily, one-minute radio drama series that culminates in a weekly omnibus every Thursday - was launched on Women’s Day 2011 after extensive research was conducted throughout South Africa to fully understand young South African women. It found that girl groups are highly influential among them and highlighted that they yearned to express themselves and have their voices heard. The research also cited various psycho-social and socio-economic issues - such as transactional sex - driving high risk behavior among young women that fuels HIV.

Wendy Hlophe* is still visibly grieving for her long-term friend, 28-year-old Sanna Supa, who was shot and killed outside her home in Braamficherville, a South African township, two weeks ago.

Tragically, Hlophe blames herself for Supa’s untimely death. Supa, a lesbian who came out about her sexual orientation three years ago, was one of the few openly gay women living in the township. She was a school administrator at Snake Park High School in Dobsonville, Soweto, and was killed as she parked her car at home on Jul. 1.

Hlophe told IPS that she holds herself responsible for Supa’s death because she is known as an openly gay woman in her township and she supported Supa when she came out. Hlophe fears that their closeness may have made Supa a target.

“We grew up in the same street and were often seen together,” she told IPS.