THE BRAVE AND FREE ALCHEMIST: MEET LUMKA OLIPHANT, ACTING DDG CORPORATE SUPPORT SERVICES

By Cuma Pantshwa

• Lumka Oliphant credits her childhood, filled with love and positive affirmations, as the foundation of her success. Growing up in Kwa-Langa, Cape Town, her family’s encouragement instilled in her a deep sense of self-worth and confidence, shaping her into the leader she is today.
• With over a decade of experience as a journalist, Lumka honed her skills in fearlessness and independence, learning that nothing is impossible. Her transition from the newsroom to Chief Director of Communications at the Department of Social Development (DSD) presented new challenges but also opportunities for growth.
• In her role at DSD, Lumka faced a patriarchal work environment, but she stood firm, advocating for herself and other women. Her journey underscores the importance of solidarity among women and the power of positive affirmation in overcoming obstacles.

In the words of Whitney Houston’s iconic song, The Greatest Love of All:

“I believe the children are our future,
Teach them well and let them lead the way,
Show them all the beauty they possess inside,
Give them a sense of pride to make it easier…”

These lyrics resonate deeply with Ms Lumka Oliphant, who believes that confidence is the greatest gift you can give a child. Reflecting on her childhood in the vibrant township of Kwa-Langa, Cape Town, Lumka cherishes the memories of love and unwavering support from her family and community. It was during these formative years that Lumka received a precious gift—the gift of affirmation. Her family instilled in her a deep sense of self-worth, often reminding her that she was smart, beautiful, and destined for greatness.

Lumka speaks fondly of her late father, Mr Simphiwe “Stix” Oliphant, who never hesitated to compliment his children and always urged them to know themselves. This solid foundation gave her a sense of confidence and purpose. “After getting dressed, we were always those kids who were asked to parade for the family and were told how beautiful and radiant we looked,” she recalls with a warm smile.

Another precious gift from her father was his love for reading, particularly newspapers. “Our home always had newspapers. Everyone knew that if you needed a paper, you’d find it at our house. He was an avid reader, and he’d make us read them with a dictionary by our side. Even as punishment, he never gave us a hiding—he’d make us read newspapers and randomly ask us the meaning of some words,” she shares.

“I guess that’s where it all started. I always knew I wanted to be a journalist.”

Mr Oliphant also taught his children to challenge authority and stand up for themselves. When Lumka returned home with her Sub B report, which showed an aggregate of 99% and a ranking of 10th in her class, her father wrote the word “IMPOSSIBLE” on it and returned it to the teacher. Coincidentally, this was the first English word young Lumka encountered.

Lumka’s reflections on her upbringing reveal the profound impact that words can have on shaping our reality. She is living proof that words are the architects of destiny and that by speaking affirmations and positive truths, she has manifested her desires and brought her dreams to life. “Looking back, I don’t think there’s anything I’ve said I wanted to be that I haven’t become.”

With over 10 years of experience as a journalist for newspapers such as The Star, Saturday Star, and City Press, Lumka believes that journalism gave her wings. Her journey as a journalist taught her many valuable lessons, especially that nothing is impossible. “Journalism grooms you to be brave because you’re taught to be daring. You can speak to anyone in the world—the only thing they can say is ‘no’. It teaches you to be independent, to be daring, and that you can be anything you want to be and go anywhere you want to go,” she boldly states.

When Lumka joined the Department of Social Development (DSD) as the Chief Director of Communications, the environment was vastly different from the newsroom. She admits that her creativity felt stifled at first. Her journey as a young woman in a leadership role has not been without challenges. She recalls a particularly difficult moment when she had to present a communication strategy to the Management Committee (MANCO). When she realised that her colleagues had not read the document she had prepared, she stood up for herself. “I had written the most beautiful strategy, and I told the then DG, Mr Madonsela, that the meeting hadn’t read the document. When he asked if I was addressing him, I specifically said ‘the meeting’. As a collective, they hadn’t read it, and I felt it was a way of trying to intimidate me.”

Despite these challenges, Lumka found support in a colleague, Mr Brenton Van Vrede, who later wrote her an email apologising and praising her strategy. “Brenton came back to me and wrote an email that said: ‘I’m so sorry, Lumka. This is the best strategy I’ve ever read.’ For that, I will always respect Brenton—he showed me that you can say ‘I’m sorry’ in the workplace.”

Known as “Miss O” by her colleagues, Lumka credits her upbringing for her success, saying that if she hadn’t been affirmed early on, she wouldn’t have survived the many challenges she’s faced both in the workplace and in her personal life. She acknowledges that while progress has been made within DSD, with more women taking up leadership positions, the boardroom environment remains patriarchal. “I’ve experienced it first-hand, where my ideas were talked over or dismissed, only to be repeated by a male colleague and praised as innovative.”

Lumka’s time at DSD has opened her eyes to many human realities. “We are a department that invests in the human development of the country,” she highlights, beaming with pride as she speaks of the good work carried out by her colleagues, particularly social workers. She reflects on the valuable lessons that have shaped her, including the importance of education, empathy, and being a great parent to her sons. “You can never be at DSD and remain the same. It’s a life-changing experience. The department has exposed me to the world and international platforms.”

Her experience at DSD has given Lumka a unique perspective on the challenges facing marginalised communities. Having faced her own challenges with racism and injustice, she is determined to use the power of storytelling to highlight the triumphs and struggles of South Africans. “I believe the democratic government didn’t tell its story appropriately, understandably because there were competing responsibilities, and communication is expensive.”

This passion for storytelling is why Lumka is so committed to the DSD News and DSDTV platforms. Reflecting on the strides made by the democratic government over the past 30 years, Lumka remarks, “I am the story of the democratic government. I stand here today because of the opportunities that were given to me by the government.”

In closing, Lumka offers a final piece of wisdom to women: “Stick together. Men are always at each other’s side, and that’s what we need to learn.” She also reminds women to prioritise their happiness and to remember the impact of positive affirmation on their lives. She confidently affirms that she will be a grandmother who is free and confident in pole dancing—a sport she has embraced since the beginning of 2024. As Lumka puts it, what she says she will be, the universe always conspires to make happen.