HR is often expected to be the neutral bridge between employees and management, but the reality is far more complicated. Because while Human Resources is meant to protect workplace fairness, it also exists within structures of power. HR reports to leadership, works within company interests and is often forced to navigate the tension between protecting employees and protecting the organisation itself. So how does HR function fairly when it is caught in between power dynamics? We are in conversation with Lerato Shawane who an HR Expert and Talent Management Specialist is. 

HR is often expected to be the neutral bridge between employees and management, but the reality is far more complicated. Because while Human Resources is meant to protect workplace fairness, it also exists within structures of power. HR reports to leadership, works within company interests and is often forced to navigate the tension between protecting employees and protecting the organisation itself.&nbsp;So how does HR function fairly when it is caught in between power dynamics? We are in conversation with Lerato Shawane who an HR Expert and Talent Management Specialist is.&nbsp;

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At POWER 98.7, we invite you to join the conversation with Kea Ncube on every platform. Browse this selection of podcasts. Now we're talking.

At POWER 98.7, we invite you to join the conversation with Kea Ncube on every platform. Browse this selection of podcasts. Now we're talking.

POWER Up

WORLD HR DAY: can HR function fairly when it is caught in between power dynamics?

Music has long been more than entertainment. In many communities, it becomes a lifeline especially for young people who are often surrounded by poverty, violence and limited opportunities, creative spaces can become powerful tools for hope and transformation. For our feel good corner, we are hanging out with some of the students from the Morris Isaacson Centre for Music. The centre, which teaches more than 340 learners between the ages of four and 18, is not only nurturing musical talent, but also building community, providing psychosocial support while creating safe spaces for young people to dream beyond their circumstances. We speak to Mduduzi Mahlase who is the Centre Administrator at the Morris Isaacson Centre for Music.

Music has long been more than entertainment. In many communities, it becomes a lifeline especially for young people who are often surrounded by poverty, violence and limited opportunities, creative spaces can become powerful tools for hope and transformation. For our feel good corner, we are hanging out with some of the students from the Morris Isaacson Centre for Music. The centre, which teaches more than 340 learners between the ages of four and 18, is not only nurturing musical talent, but also building community, providing psychosocial support while creating safe spaces for young people to dream beyond their circumstances. We speak to Mduduzi Mahlase who is the Centre Administrator at the Morris Isaacson Centre for Music.

Feel Good: Morris Isaacson Centre for Music

For many women today, navigating identity can feel like walking a tightrope between independence and tradition. On one side is the modern woman, ambitious, educated, outspoken and redefining what partnership, family and femininity look like. On the other side are cultural customs and traditional expectations that many feel are outdated, restrictive or even oppressive. Somewhere along the way, certain customs became villainised, often because they were tied to systems that silenced women rather than supported them. But is every tradition inherently harmful? Or have some customs lost their original meaning because of how they were practiced, enforced or interpreted over time? We are in conversation with Clinical Psychologist and Life Coach Sindiso Mailula as we explore the tension between modern womanhood and traditional values. 

For many women today, navigating identity can feel like walking a tightrope between independence and tradition. On one side is the modern woman, ambitious, educated, outspoken and redefining what partnership, family and femininity look like. On the other side are cultural customs and traditional expectations that many feel are outdated, restrictive or even oppressive. Somewhere along the way, certain customs became villainised, often because they were tied to systems that silenced women rather than supported them.&nbsp;But is every tradition inherently harmful? Or have some customs lost their original meaning because of how they were practiced, enforced or interpreted over time?&nbsp;We are in conversation with Clinical Psychologist and Life Coach Sindiso Mailula as we explore the tension between modern womanhood and traditional values.&nbsp;

To Kotiza or not to Kotiza: how we have villainised certain customs over and how to blend the modern woman with “old customs”

South Africa’s children are growing up in the shadow of violence. According to recent South African Police Service crime statistics for the 2024/2025 reporting period revealed that rape accounts for approximately 38% of all reported crimes committed against children, while assault and related violent offences make up almost 45% of crimes against minors. These are not just numbers. They point to a generation of children being exposed to trauma, aggression and instability at incredibly young ages. And increasingly, that violence is spilling into spaces that are meant to feel safe, including schools and early childhood development centres. From bullying and emotional aggression to physical altercations among young learners, many educators are raising concerns about the normalisation of violent behaviour in childhood environments. We are joined in conversation with Lazola Makhupula.

South Africa&rsquo;s children are growing up in the shadow of violence. According to recent South African Police Service crime statistics for the 2024/2025 reporting period revealed that rape accounts for approximately 38% of all reported crimes committed against children, while assault and related violent offences make up almost 45% of crimes against minors.&nbsp;These are not just numbers. They point to a generation of children being exposed to trauma, aggression and instability at incredibly young ages. And increasingly, that violence is spilling into spaces that are meant to feel safe, including schools and early childhood development centres. From bullying and emotional aggression to physical altercations among young learners, many educators are raising concerns about the normalisation of violent behaviour in childhood environments. We are joined in conversation with Lazola Makhupula.

WORLD HR DAY: can HR function fairly when it is caught in between power dynamics?

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