Lee-Anne Gaertner

Creative professional with over ten years of experience advancing social justice through storytelling

[Lee-Anne Gaertner @leeannegaertner]

I'm so excited to share that I have a flash story in this collection coming out in November!

Huge thanks to @KerryHammerton and @KaravanPress for making this a reality.

Read about the cover: https://t.co/AGyrSxFXP9

[Lee-Anne Gaertner @leeannegaertner]

I have a piece out in this week's Mail & Guardian about femicide and what it can be like to run as a woman in South Africa.

You can read the full article here: https://t.co/u4wFFOKpIW

[Lee-Anne Gaertner @leeannegaertner]

@CALS_ZA @sheena_swemmer @CFSJ_MPlan @ThuliMadonsela3 Huge congratulations, @sheena_swemmer!

[Lee-Anne Gaertner @leeannegaertner]

@sheena_swemmer Also, "had a sexual relationship"? 🤨 Really? That sounds like coercive circumstances

[Lee-Anne Gaertner @leeannegaertner]

The lovely team at Wits Coms kindly shared my piece in support of #BreastCancerAwarenessMonth

If even one person sees this and gets screened early, that would be a huge win.

You can read the full article here: https://t.co/nqwbNRctyw

[Wits University @WitsUniversity]

Wits in 60 Seconds | Season 3: Episode 33
[WATCH]: Wits breaks ground on Africa’s first fully integrated BioHub, a health innovation campus set to fast-track scientific discoveries. The University strengthens ties with Norway through a visit by their Minister of Research and Higher Education. Wits leads projects in AI, education and sustainability after the Afretec Network awards research grants to boost Africa’s digital growth. Communications specialist Lee-Anne Bruce shares her personal breast cancer journey to raise awareness and access to care while Wits researchers host SAPS to align research ethics and explore future collaboration on academic projects.

Watch Here: https://t.co/FOIMNTG3lF

#WitsForGood #WitsIn60Seconds

[Lee-Anne Gaertner @leeannegaertner]

Read my latest piece on why we need to change the definitions of sexual offences

[CALS @CALS_ZA]

READ: Our @sheena_swemmer and @leeannegaertner share their thoughts on why we are challenging the way the law defines sexual offences

https://t.co/KFHxEPR1w8

[Lee-Anne Gaertner @leeannegaertner]

I loved writing this piece about a recent trip to the eastern Limpopo to see the potential power of solar energy in the hands of local communities

📷Ihsaan Hafejee for @350Africa

https://t.co/Cf3PuuuAos

[CALS @CALS_ZA]

READ: Our @leeannegaertner discusses the real meaning of a #JustTransition - the power of solar energy in the hands of mining-affected communities

https://t.co/v5JnnngJN2

[CALS @CALS_ZA]

READ: Our @leeannegaertner discusses a case where a mother of two was convicted of murder for killing her abusive partner during an incident of domestic violence. We argue that a history of abuse should be considered in determining these matters #HimorMe

https://t.co/SFnyFDWDSp

[Lee-Anne Gaertner @leeannegaertner]

I know you might be asking why you should support creative writing now. But at times when the world is in crisis is exactly when we turn to art - to good journalism but also books, movies and TV - for information, for comfort, for stimulation, for hope. For this, we need writers.

[Lee-Anne Gaertner @leeannegaertner]

I had such a wonderful experience on Monday night at the first Writing Lives discussion, where I got to share my work and talk about writing and justice. It reminded me that the Creative Writing Department at Wits is an incredibly supportive and engaged space.

[Lee-Anne Gaertner @leeannegaertner]

I was privileged to be able to complete my Master's in creative writing at Wits through a staff bursary. There are talented students this year who are struggling to pay for their studies.

You can help with a donation to the Alumni Bursary: https://t.co/7YUZ96iK8S

[Lee-Anne Gaertner @leeannegaertner]

I'm excited to share the stage with @AntonHarber and @realKurtEllis as we launch the Creative Writing Alumni Bursary on 24 March.

I will be reading from my MA and discussing access to justice using a criminal case @CALS_ZA has been working on since 2019.

[Lee-Anne Gaertner @leeannegaertner]

@WHO As a cancer survivor, this graphic is over-simplified and victim-blaming. Even if some cancers in adulthood can be prevented, not all of them can. I had none of the risk factors for developing cancer such as smoking, drinking alcohol, gene mutations or being over the age of 60

[Prof Bonita Meyersfeld @BoniMeyersfeld]

If Jockey wanted to participate meaningfully in #PinkOctober, they could:

- Encourage followers to get breast exams;
- Direct donations to cancer orgs like @ILoveBoobies_za or @ThePinkDrive; or
- Donate some of their products to women in need

@BoniMeyersfeld & @leeannebruce

[Prof Bonita Meyersfeld @BoniMeyersfeld]

The very last thing we wanted to do was to buy underwear. To have a company using breast cancer as a hook to sell their products - especially these products - is contrary to the whole purpose of this awareness raising initiative.

[Prof Bonita Meyersfeld @BoniMeyersfeld]

One of the things people struggle to talk about or understand is that breast cancer treatment - whether through chemotherapy, radiation or surgery - ravages your body and can make it feel foreign and diminished. This may not be every woman's experience, but it was certainly ours.

[Prof Bonita Meyersfeld @BoniMeyersfeld]

As women who were diagnosed with breast cancer; have gone through months or years of brutal and disfiguring treatment; and who continue to live in the shadow of this diagnosis and treatment, this advert feels both exploitative and insulting.

[Prof Bonita Meyersfeld @BoniMeyersfeld]

Dear @Jockey_SA

#BreastCancerAwarenessMonth is more than just a convenient trending topic to help sell your products

[Lee-Anne Gaertner @leeannegaertner]

This October, please consider supporting a screening organisation like @ILoveBoobies_za or the @ThePinkDrive

[Lee-Anne Gaertner @leeannegaertner]

I wrote a short piece for #BreastCancerAwarenessMonth: https://t.co/nqwbNRctyw

[Lee-Anne Gaertner @leeannegaertner]

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women in South Africa. I was diagnosed because I had a good GP and a medical aid with a screening benefit. Not everyone is as fortunate as me, but everyone deserves a chance to fight cancer