Sebabatso Tsaoane

She/Her

Is a midwife, women’s health advocate, and healer based in Bloemfontein in the Free State. With over a decade of experience in clinical care, health advocacy, and community development, her work sits at the intersection of women’s health, social justice, and community empowerment. She is a qualified and registered nurse midwife and holds a Master’s in Nursing Science and a Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing Education.She is the Founder and Executive Director of Black Woman Arise Women’s Health Foundation, a nonprofit organisation advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights for marginalised women. Under her leadership, the foundation has implemented initiatives aimed at reducing cervical cancer-related morbidity and mortality, established the Free State’s first community-based colposcopy and Large Loop Excision of the Transformation Zone (LLETZ) clinic, and launched a midwife-led reproductive health service providing accessible, high-quality care for women and children. Sebabatso has been widely recognised for her leadership and impact, including selection for the International Confederation of Midwives Young Midwifery Leadership programme, inclusion in Mail & Guardian’s Top 50 Powerful Women, recognition as one of Africa’s Brightest Young Minds, Sunday World Unsung Heroes, and News24 Young Mandela of the Future. She is also a recipient of the University of the Free State Young Alumnus of the Year Award and the Hauwa Ojeifo One Young World scholarship. In addition to her clinical and advocacy work, she serves as a lecturer and practical coordinator in midwifery at the University of the Free State, where she mentors emerging healthcare professionals and promotes compassionate, ethical, and patient-centred care. Through her annual talk show How I Met My Vagina, she creates space for open dialogue on women’s health, destigmatises reproductive health issues, and celebrates womanhood. Her work is guided by a vision of healing communities through healing women, and advancing a health system where care is accessible, dignified, and equitable for all.