Songezo Zibi, born in Mqanduli, Eastern Cape  is an author of two books, Raising the Bar: Hope and Renewal in South Africa (2015) and Manifesto – A New Vision for South Africa (2022). 

He is a former Associate Editor of the Financial Mail, and former Editor of Business Day, South Africa’s leading business and economy daily newspaper. Songezo had a successful corporate career at Volkswagen South Africa (1998 – 2006), Xstrata (2006 – 2013) and Absa (2016 – 2021).

Songezo has served on the boards of various non-profit organisations.

Vuyiswa Ramokgopa (nee Mutshekwane) is an experienced entrepreneur and business leader with over 15 years experience across various industries including: retail, marketing & design, events management and property investment – she has also held various listed, private & non-profit board roles. She holds a BCOM in Politics, Philosophy and Economics from UCT and has completed executive programs with GIBS and Oxford University. 

Having founded her first business in 2009, a retail clothing boutique in downtown JHB, Vuyiswa has subsequently started and led several businesses and held senior leadership roles in the corporate and non-profit sector. 

As CEO of the SA Institute of Black Property Practitioners she was responsible for driving various initiatives aimed at transforming the South African property sector, promoting the increased participation of Youth and Women and capacitating entrepreneurs. In 2020, she was elected as the inaugural Chairperson of the National Property Practitioners Council. She has also served as a member of the Black Business Council National Council since 2018, was a member of the BRICS Women’s Business Alliance Executive Committee and in 2018, founded ‘Women on the Rise’ a voluntary association aimed at increasing the voice of women in policy decision-making. 

She is an Alumnus of the 2018 Fortune 500 Vital Voices - US Global Mentoring Programme and a recipient of the 2011 Destiny Magazine Top 40 Under 40, 2018 Young Independents Top 100, 2018 CNBC Africa All Africa Business Leaders Award (Finalist) and 2019 Standard Bank Top Women in Business (finalist).

Vuyiswa is passionate about economic and spatial justice, the empowerment of youth and women and the development of the African continent. She is also a wife and mother of 3.

Cilna is a successful attorney and entrepreneur, she is a founding member and the Managing Director of SSLR Inc., a renowned property law firm in South Africa. She has established and been involved in several businesses over the years, all with a focus on her area of expertise and passion, property. She is a natural leader with a love for people and a dedication to creating a safe and positive work environment for the people she works with.

She has extensive experience in property law and is highly regarded for her practical and effective solutions, especially in the rental industry. Cilna is a respected member of the legal and property community, having been chosen to act on the panel of experts for the Law Society of South Africa’s Legal Education and Development, a member of the advocacy committee for the NPPC, and a training partner industry bodies and for many Estate Agencies. She is also a founder of the Property Law Alliance, a group of specialist attorneys dedicated to providing real solutions to landlords and rental agents. Cilna is passionate about South Africa and the property industry and is committed to providing practical solutions and training to the legal and property industries of South Africa.

Makashule Gana is a highly accomplished South African political organiser and activist with over two decades of experience in formal politics. He has held numerous senior political positions, including serving as a member of the National Assembly, the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, and as a Local government Councillor in Johannesburg. Makashule is also highly educated, with a BSc in Mathematics and Computer Science, a BA in Economics and Political Science, a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration, and recently completed a Bachelor of Commerce Honours in Economics. He is an avid social road runner a passionate about driving positive change in South Africa. He is a father of two and was born in the village of Lefara in Tzaneen.

Tebogo Moalusi is a successful business professional, creativepreneur, and social activist. He has worked at various levels in leading investment banking, management consulting, private equity, ICT, and insurance companies, primarily in business development, marketing, and sales functions. Whilst working in corporate South Africa, he founded the Young Professionals Association and Bokamoso Cross Mentorship Programme, which he led for twelve years. Both entities focused on youth development.

He has founded several businesses and thrives on building new organisations through ideation, strategy, visioning and partnership development. He holds a BCom Economics and Law degree from the University of Cape Town, where he also served as the Treasurer General in the Student Representative Council. He also holds an MBA degree from the Gordons Institute of Business Science, specialising in entrepreneurship. He was born in Soweto and is passionate about the creative sector.

Mandla Isaacs is a government advisor and public policy professional. He has worked in national government as head of research and speechwriting in the Ministries of Home Affairs and Finance, where he worked on immigration and economic policy. As a former strategy consultant, Mandla has advised businesses and governments across Africa on economic development and strategy issues.

In 2022, Mandla completed a Master in Public Administration, and Mason Fellowship in Public Policy and Management at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, where he focused on economic development and political economy. He also holds an M.A. in International Relations from Wits University and a B.A. in Political Science from Howard University (Washington DC). Mandla is passionate about building a South Africa in which everyone is able to thrive. He enjoys watching basketball and football.

Irfaan is an activist, organiser, and community builder. He previously served as the Youth Activism Programme Manager at the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation, organising, mobilising and developing socio-political consciousness of young people across 30+ community-based youth activist clubs. Through the AKF, he spearheaded the creation of the National Youth Coalition with many other activists, in building a space for youth to strengthen their voice to create systemic change and further the work of justice.

Mangera started his activism in school, volunteering for community relief projects. He was elected to the Crescents Cricket Club executive leadership at the age of 16 for his role in coaching and national initiatives through youth participation in sport. Irfaan served as the Deputy Chairperson of the Education Students Council at Wits University and was elected to lead the MSA campus chapter, before being elected onto the National Union of Muslim Student Associations as its Secretary General. He holds a Bachelor of Education and Bachelor of Education (Hons) in Education policy, leadership and management from Wits University, and completed the Futurelect Public Leadership Fellowship in 2022.

Irfaan currently serves on the board of SANCA Nishtara, a community drug and rehabilitation centre, and is an activist in the Palestinian solidarity movement. He was appointed by the Premier of the Gauteng Provincial Government to the Youth Advisory Panel and has also served in a number of committees, community, student and youth organisations.

He received the Honey Gluckman Award, ‘for outstanding contribution to community education,

with emphasis on a disadvantaged group’, by the faculty of Humanities at Wits, and the Inaugural Human Rights Award from the Artfluence Human Rights Festival hosted by the Centre for Creative Arts at the UKZN. Irfaan was featured on a global project profiling 7 young human rights educators from different regions in the world, run by the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Amnesty International and Soka Gakkai International, presenting before a high level panel discussion on human rights education at the 48 th session of the UN Human Rights Council, in addition to speaking, facilitating and presenting at other international panels and platforms.

Faeeza is a social entrepreneur and a fierce advocate for equality. Faeeza, who founded the Voice of the People movement, has spearheaded a powerful grassroots initiative that aims to solve hyper-local problems using design thinking strategies. Drawing on her extensive experience as a researcher at the Presidency, Faeeza is a leading expert in policy and social innovation, and is deeply committed to addressing inequalities in her community.

Based in Johannesburg, she works tirelessly to promote positive change and advance the cause of equality for all. With a passion for empowering individuals and building bridges across diverse communities, Faeeza is a true visionary and a driving force for social transformation.

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Ishmael  began his political activism in the Black Consciousness Movement (BCM). After the BCM was banned, he served as a member of the Soweto Action Committee which was organized to deal with the increasing detention of anti apartheid struggle leaders. He was elected as the chairman of the Interim Committee of AZAPO in 1978 and six years later, he was elected president.

On 4 May 1978 Mkhabela together with fellow AZAPO leader Lybon Mabasa were arrested in Soweto and detained under the General Law Amendment Act of 1963. They were subsequently charged with terrorism for their part in the strugglefor freedom. Mkhabela headed AZAPO during a turbulent time particularly when it was in conflict with the United Democratic Front (UDF) in the 1980s. 

Mkhabela continues to work closely with communities as a development practitioner who is a board member of a number of trustees and organisations that are involved in community development. These include the Johannesburg Social Housing Company, the Steve Biko Foundation, the Kabo Development Trust, Aggrey Klaaste Nation Building Foundation and the Central Johannesburg Partnership among others. He is also the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Interfaith Community Development Association. Though he began as a political activist, his interest has been on social issues, thus he has focused less on politics and more community initiatives since South Africa achieved democracy.  

Mkhabela's diligent commitment to improve the living conditions of Johannesburg communities has won him numerous awards, the most notable being the Stan Nkosi Achievement Award for 2010

Nick is a Professor, Speaker and Consultant in the area of Strategy and Leadership. After a career in business (including a period as a general manager) he began his academic career and completed his PhD at the University of Washington in Seattle. He was the Founding Dean of the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS, 2000-2015). Nick Binedell’s key area of interest and passion is in the field of strategic leadership with a particular focus on the development and execution of strategy in fast and changing environments.

He is a frequent public speaker in South Africa and abroad and has been a consultant to companies primarily in South Africa. Hid political engagement has been a lifelong passion, mainly in the Civil Society sector. In the 1980’s he was a part of the Five Freedoms Forum, a UDF affiliate and a member of JODAC. He is currently a member of the Defend our Democracy Secretariat and a Trustee of the Helen Susman Foundation. In 2015 the Academy of International Business (AIB) elected him as their Global Educator of the Year. He is a non-executive Director of a major listed company and continues to lecture at the Gordon Institute of Business Science.

Boitumelo Mpakanyane has a broad and varied professional history, a seasoned entrepreneur and professional with experience in communications, legal practice and most notably as Digital & Policy Manager of the country’s largest private elections management company. Boitumelo’s experience has entailed him leading digital electoral components of some of our country’s most defining elections in both the political and private sector.

Boitumelo’s educational background includes degrees in Political Studies, International Relations and Law.

Given his experience and expertise, Boitumelo serves in RISE Mzansi as Head of Internal Democracy and is responsible for ensuring strict organisational and political compliance with the RISE Mzansi constitution as well as leading our Public Representative Candidate Selection process in according with our promise to South Africans of RISE Mzansi leaders who answer to the communities they lead.

Lawrence Manaka is a grassroots Education and political activist with an unyielding passion for youth empowerment, education reform, and political activism. Currently in his third year at the University of Johannesburg, Lawrence is pursuing a dual major in Economics and Political Sciences. He served as the Deputy Chairperson of Equal Education and as a member of its secretariat where he provided strategic political and financial direction. His involvement in education reform extended to advisory roles within the Gauteng Department of Education Teaching and Learning Steering Committee. Lawrence is part of the Futurelect 2023 cohort of emerging leaders from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. Lawrence has been a volunteer facilitator and executive coach for various organisations, as a part of his passion and commitment to nurturing future leader.

Esther is a Passionate and young female activist with a  strong background as a Civil Society leader. She is currently a Chairperson of  the Innovating Kasi Organisation which was established 10 years ago.

The Organisation has since given birth to two entities under its umbrella namely (Generation Am Woke) and (Mother and Daughter Movement). This whole journey began after working for  6 years  as an events manager and technician in the creative sector. She uses her experience to host events that create a platform for citizens to voice out their societal issues.

Nonkululeko Hlongwane Mhlongo is a community engagement strategist and Learning & Development Manager who founded Female President Academy, a nonprofit organization empowering women and promoting peace through civic education. She also serves as the lead content producer for Inkululeko Leadership Academy.

Her commitment to community engagement and skills development has earned her recognition locally and internationally, serving in leadership roles at multiple organisations and U.S Consulate programs. Through her work, she advocates for a more equitable and just world. She is currently pursuing a BA in Government Administration and Development at the University of South Africa.

Axolile Notywala is an experienced activist and community organiser. He is a Lifelong Fellow with the Atlantic Fellows for Racial Equity, and serves as a board member at the Philippi Village Project.

Axolile has a demonstrated history of leadership and management in the non-profit sector, and previously served as the National Coordinator for the Right2Know Campaign and as the General Secretary of the Social Justice Coalition. He has earned certificates in Leadership from the University of Cape Town as part of its ‘Leading in Public Life’ Young African Leaders Programme, and from Rutgers University as part of the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders. He is currently earning a B.A. in Political Leadership and Citizenship at the University of South Africa.

With his dedication for local government and passion for movement building and participatory democracy, Axolile co-founded the Movement for Collective Action and Racial Equity (Movement for CARE), a municipalist movement focusing on meaningful local participatory governance, active citizenship and building solidarity amongst marginalised communities. He also co-founded Role Models FC, a Khayelitsha based amateur football club that organises young men and boys, through sport, to lead and be active in the fight against GBV and mental health challenges.

Nomsa Tarabella Marchesi, a seasoned South African politician, brings a decade of political experience to her current role as provincial convenor. Her political journey began in 2014 when she became a member of the National Assembly, where she held key positions including Basic Education spokesperson, Shadow Deputy Minister of Women, Youth, and Persons with Disabilities, Party Whip, and Police committee member.

Born in Bloemfontein, Free State, she earned a BSc in microbiology and biochemistry from the University of the Free State. Later, she pursued studies in Ireland, leading to a career as a manufacturing technologist and Project Manager in clinical research in Dublin.

Back in South Africa, Nomsa obtained an honors degree in Pharmacology and worked as a researcher and junior lecturer at the Free State University. She also founded a financial cooperative, empowering 400 women in Mangaung with business support and loans. Nomsa's commitment to social justice and gender equality is evident in her advocacy for women's rights and condemnation of gender-based violence. She balances her career with family life, dedicating herself to her family and son, while also enjoying reading, cooking, and long walks. Nomsa remains dedicated to shaping South Africa's future through her involvement in politics.

Pumla Ngesi, a beacon of hope and transformation in the Eastern Cape, embodies the spirit of African solutions to African problems. Hailing from Duncan Village, East London, she emerged from a loving and supportive family, even enduring arrest and torture by South African Police during apartheid at the age of 16, showcasing her early resilience.

Over 30 years, Pumla's diverse experience includes teaching, skills training, program coordination, and management. Her contributions span institutions like the EC Education Leadership Institute, the Donald Woods Foundation, Matthew Goniwe School of Leadership & Governance, and the Small Projects Foundation, where she served as a Coach, Mentor, Training Specialist, and Community Development Practitioner.

As a Transgenerational Leader, Pumla's influence transcends community settings, age, gender, and race. Her role as Provincial Coordinator at Rivonia Circle saw her spearheading the "Democracy Builder" programme, empowering communities across South Africa to address pressing issues. She empowers thousands through social media and community presence, firmly believing that leaders should tackle people's problems daily and change lives.

With training in Conflict Resolution, Neuro Linguistic Programming, Life Coaching, and Business Skills, Pumla is well-prepared to drive change. Her strategic thinking, execution, influence, and relationship-building skills led to her appointment as Provincial Convenor for RISE Mzansi, a modern political organization.

Pumla Ngesi's life story epitomizes resilience, dedication, and the transformative power of one individual.

Thabiso Mogorosi, a dedicated and proficient community organiser, is known for his unwavering commitment to creating positive change in his community. With a background as a Coding and Robotics National Coordinator, Project and Events Coordinator, and Personal Assistant, Thabiso possesses a versatile skill set that includes exceptional managerial capabilities. His ability to listen, empathise, and engage with people from diverse backgrounds, coupled with his outstanding communication skills, and youthfulness makes him an excellent addition to the RISE team.

Bigboy Moagi (Affectionately known as Mokwepa) – born in Makgobistad near Mafikeng, is a well-known Radio Personality and Communicator.

He has worked in the Media and Communication space for a period of about 34 years, having started as a Radio announcer at a tender age of 18 at the then Radio Mmabatho in Mafikeng, he went on to work for Radio Setswana which later became Motsweding FM, Radio 702, and Vodacom’s Yebo Radio.

Concurrently running with his radio job he also worked in government as Manager: Public Relations at Ngaka Modiri Molema Municipality, Executive Manager / Coordinator Marketing and Communications at Rustenburg Municipality, Political Advisor at Ditsobotla Municipality, Media Liaison Officer in the Ministry of Water and Environmental Affairs and his last government job was as Manager Stakeholder Engagement at the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment.

He knows there is no single approach that works for everyone, so he continues to educate himself on emerging trends and new approaches to empower himself with knowledge.

Dr. Selby Khumalo, a seasoned local government specialist, brings a wealth of experience to the table, having served as an executive mayor in two municipalities. Dr. Khumalo's leadership grounded in his understanding of the intricacies of local government, positions him as a valuable asset. Dr. Khumalo is also a passionate farmer.