Lisinda de Jager, a Student Affairs staff member based in the Centre for Student Life and Learning (CSLL), has co-authored Dames en Here (Ladies and Gentlemen), a newly released book designed to equip readers with practical tools for confident public speaking.
The book, praised by LitNet as “a one-stop guide to everything about speeches," covers various aspects of public speaking, including debates, acceptance speeches, motivational talks, and speechwriting.
De Jager, who holds a Master's degree in Law, serves as the Rubix Cluster Education Coordinator within the CSLL in the Division Student Affairs (DSAf). She is also the Residence Head of Heemstede Residence. Co-written with Dr Elbie Adendorff of Stellenbosch University's Afrikaans and Dutch Department, the book also features a chapter on team debating contributed by Elize Steenkamp, an accredited speech and debate judge, who is also an expert in the field of team debating and has been “closely involved in every aspect of public speaking, specifically in relation to writing, coaching, judging, competition organisation, course presentation and content creation of course material" for the past 20 years.
Prior to joining DSAf in 2016, De Jager worked as an attorney and had written several guides related to her field of practice – family law – which would be distributed during law clinics and educational sessions at different schools. Dames en Here is her first published book.
The idea for Dames en Here was sparked when Marita Nel from Lapa Publishers identified a gap in the market for a contemporary Afrikaans-language public speaking guide aimed at young people. Recognising the need for a practical resource, Nel approached De Jager and Dr Adendorff with the opportunity to develop the book.
“We wanted the book to be as practical as possible to ensure that whether you knew nothing about redenaars (public speaking) and debat (debating), whether you knew a little bit or whether you were a seasoned individual, the book would still be of some use," De Jager explained.
Balancing a full-time role in student affairs with writing a book was no small feat. Yet, for De Jager, Dames en Here was more than just a side project – it was a passion. She dedicated evenings and weekends to writing, driven by the belief that equipping young people with public speaking skills could be transformative.
“Giving young people the tools to be able to speak comfortably in front of a group is what gave me the drive, satisfaction, and reward of writing the book. This made it easier to dedicate time towards the book," she said.
Support from CSLL also played a key role in making the project possible. Within the greater DSAf environment, staff are encouraged to participate in opportunities for personal and professional development, aligning with Stellenbosch University's goal of becoming an “employer of choice" that offers not just students but also staff members a transformative experience.
“I am very grateful as the CSLL office gives us the opportunity to be involved in other things as well," De Jager noted, also crediting her husband, Bernard, for his encouragement through the long writing process.
While the book follows guidelines set by the ATKV – Afrikaanse Taal- en Kultuurvereniging (Afrikaans Language and Culture Association), which shapes its structure for Afrikaans-speaking students, De Jager believes its practical insights into public speaking and debating are universally valuable.
Like any major project, there were challenges along the way. One of De Jager's main concerns was whether the book would resonate with its intended audience. However, early feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.
“The information, ideas, and tips are explained clearly and unambiguously, chapter by chapter. The writing style is accessible and pleasant, almost like a fun-to-read, conversational guide," wrote one reviewer.
