Mogale Mathibe Molala
Mogale Molala is in Tshwane University of Technology (Ga-Rankuwa Campus) doing his third year in Financial Information Systems. In his first year, he took part in a leadership development program called Top Programs and he won a certificate for being the most Resourceful Junior in Top Adventure and he also took part in a Campus initiative called Nhwana Wo Hiteka which students ask for donations for the poor. Mogale is passionate about helping others less fortunate. As a result, he became a Peer Facilitator and won the award for the Most Outstanding Facilitator in Top Motlhabane.
He is now a Motivational Speaker, Life Mentor founder of Mogale Molala Foundation- An Ngo that deals with man empowerment, with an aim of producing responsible men and non-violent man by providing a platform for male students to engage with one another. He is a founder of Heroic Invaders pty ltd – A company which deals with seminars, host talks, youth debates, varsity tours, team building activities, etc. and he is the chairperson of Tut Ga Rankuwa Debate society. He featured in Boa Newspaper last year and he is currently a regular speaker at TUT FM and SMU FM.
Sigcino Tevin Kubeka
Commonly known as Owen. A twenty-four-year-old Honors student in Political Sciences at the University of Pretoria whose research is focused on Identity Politics and its use as a tool for political mobilization. With four years dedicated to academics and student activism, Owen has led Tuks Students’ Political Association as the political officer for the year 2016 and Chairperson for SASCO Tukkies in 2017 & 2018.
Along with being a fellow of the Democracy Works Academy 2019, he has been selected as one of the South African students to participate in the Africa-Australia University Network seminars on the Indian Ocean Region Relations with a specific focus on the Blue Economy.
Mapeiso “Lilly” Molapi
Mapeiso is a young black, enthusiastic, goal-driven woman. She is currently working at Rammulotsi Media House/ GlobalGirl Media South Africa, a company led by women for women. She is able to impart skills to younger women and help change their perspective on the world through the schools Digital Media Programme. She is able to share views concerning feminism and women rights to her students.
Mapeiso holds the position of Head of Design. The position has enabled her to be a free creative, offering quality services to their client. She uses her skill to deliver a strong message of women solidarity through visuals. She is also a photographer which enables her to tell a story through an image. These are tools that she uses to deliver thought-provoking topics. She holds a Diploma in Financial Management with Unisa, a certificate in Java programming language with Oracle, A+ certificate with CompTIA. This attribute proves beneficial in paying attention to detail to technical execution.
Kholwani Simelane
Kholwani is a young vibrant, innovative and creative individual. Kholwani is from the East Rand of Johannesburg in a small township called Kwa –Thema. He graduated from the University of South Africa (UNISA) in 2016 with a Higher Certificate in Adult Basic Education and Training. He was part of a youth Led organization called Equal Education where he recently served as a Deputy Head of Gauteng.
Kholwani is passionate about youth activism and education. He hopes to one day be part of the individuals that will change the structural injustices that affect all South Africans. Being part of the Democracy Works Academy he hopes to receive the necessary tools to equip himself with the skills of a just and firm leader and being able to transfer these skills to the young people of Kwa Thema.
Nomathemba Kate Mokgadi Santawane
Nomathemba is a Psychology student at the University of South Africa. As a gender activist, she became the regional representative in Limpopo for the movement that brought a national and semi-international march against gender-based violence in South Africa, #THETOTALSHUTDOWN.
Nomathemba owns an NPO ‘Nkapese Mosadi’ – which is her tool to help drive positive change within academics, arts, and personal development. As an educational activist, she uses public speech to fight the negative pressures primary and tertiary pupils experience that hinders their empowerment. She is a firm believer in the power of communication. Communication must be clothed with love, which gives birth to respect and acceptance. These values as a humanitarian are truly a great place to start to ensure, “an intersectional inclusive South Africa.”
Zinhle Abigail Maeko
Zinhle takes great pride in her background of writing. Having worked as a contributor for ExpressImpress where she wrote on politics and culture. In 2018 she worked as a producer for WellSexuality study, a group of young scholars and artists investigating notions of sexuality among youth in Johannesburg, where she filmed and directed a short documentary on how youth in Johannesburg navigate sexuality and religion.
She holds a BA in Political Studies and International Relations from the University of the Witwatersrand. With her passion for media, her academic background and personal experience of the South African public healthcare system she aims to reconcile the narratives and experiences of others regarding public health. She enjoys reading on pop culture, psychology, and personal development. Zinhle anticipates that being a Democracy Works Academy fellow will equip her with organizational and transformative leadership skills and expand her personal and professional network.
Kgaugelo Kganakga
Kgaugelo is a graduate of the North West University, where he received his Bachelor of Social Science in Psychology majoring in Sociology in 2016. He has further received his Bachelor of Honours in Psychology with distinction in research in 2018 at University of Venda, Thohoyandou. During his studies, Kgaugelo was employed as a Peer education officer, where he was responsible for coordinating the HIV/AIDS programmes within the institution. He has also worked as a student supplementary facilitator where he has provided academic support to undergraduate students who had academic related challenges.
He is currently employed as a Human Resource Trainee by SGS South Africa (PTY) LTD, where he is responsible for planning, developing, implementing and evaluating training and development programmes to ensure management and staff acquire the skills and develop the competencies required by an organisation to meet their organisational objectives. He is currently an owner and Senior Career development consultant at Mind Shapers Consultancy, an impact-oriented career development enterprise that supports the youth to leverage their respective career opportunities. He is currently participating in the Young African Leaders’ Initiative Regional Leadership Center Southern Africa Programme 2019, Activate Change Drivers Programme 2019, He is also participating in the Democracy Works Academy.
Jeanette Mano
Mantoa Jeanette Mano is a young black woman entrepreneur & community developer, from Rammulotsi in the Free State. She is a Co-founder & owner of Rammulotsi Media House Primary Cooperative. She studied Human Resource Management in 2011-2013 with Flavius Mareka TVET college. She n started working as a Labour officer and personal assistance in the ANC constituency office in 2014-2015. Later in 2015 she started training with GlobalGirl Media South Africa were herself and 23 other young women were trained in Journalism and Photography. Within the GGMSA programme, she was one of the young people who started the Rammulotsi My Kasi, My Story Newsletter which is still being published in 2019. She has worked with Organisations such as Rise Young Women’s Club as a chairperson, where she and other women were helping each other grow in terms of providing help to community members by donating food and clothes to underprivileged people. She has also worked in a lot of projects engaging in Human Rights, Women & children’s rights, crime prevention. One of her highlights her field is having started a project called “Black Christmas” on her own where she lobbied for funds to donate food, clothes, and toys to families that are disadvantaged.
She is an agent of change.
Nombulelo Zintle Mtshazo
Nombulelo lives in Soweto, Zone6 Diepkloof. She is the eldest of two children and she spent her teenage years trying to help her mother financially. Nombulelo was always ranked as a diligent pupil in school, education was always a priority for her. In 2015, she was part of Dreamgirls Academy Mentee. In 2016 she was in BizSchool December Programme, which took place at the Gordon Institute of Business Science. Currently, she is about to finish her final year at the University of Johannesburg in Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting Degree. She is also part of Sinane Elderly NGO in my community handling the finances.
Sivuziwe Simayile
Sivuziwe lives in North West, Rustenburg in Marikana. She pursued a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Psychology and Labour Relations Management at North West University Vaal Triangle Campus in 2016. Her main purpose and drive for pursuing my qualification were to understand the basis of human nature and how that shapes our lives through human interaction and how it all takes place in a professional setting and to tackle occupational challenges faced by the working class.
Sivuziwe considers herself as a curious individual who enjoys learning and over the past few years, she has been reading about our African history and the roots of who we are.
Moeketsi Gordon Koahela
The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read nor write but those who cannot learn, unlearn and relearn – Alvin Toffler.
These powerful words by Alvin Toffler are but a few words that best fit the picture of who Moeketsi Gordon Koahela is. As a self-identifying Black Homosexual Male who is currently reading, and researching towards his Master of Arts Degree in Sociology at Wits University with a particular research interest in ‘The Performance of Masculinity Among Male University Students: A Case Study of Wits University’s All Male Residence ’. Being a proud feminist who is a gender and sexuality activist Moeketsi exemplifies that greatness does not conform.
Mzwakhe Mzamo Vilane
Mzwakhe is from Atteridgeville, Tshwane. He is a young person whose passion is embedded and embodied in the hearts of young people and he demonstrates his allegiance in youth by capitalizing his time and knowledge in developing young boys/girls in schools.
Mzwakhe is a Learner Support Agent at the Department of Education. He uses a distinctive pedagogic method of facilitating the contemporary social issues which are detrimental and disconcerting to the immaculate growth of our youth. He has been a Ground-Breaker at The New Love Life Trust (NGO) for 3 years, advocating for sexual reproduction health rights for the youth also promulgating the AYFS (Adolescents and Youth Friendly Services) in clinics. He extended his leadership peregrination by becoming a spearhead of youth in leadership portfolio in a local youth enablement NGO called AYOLE (Atteridgeville Youth Lekgotla) enhancing and developing pupils in engaging in debates, public speaking and oral presentations. He has received an award from UNICEF as the best facilitator and mentor of a peer club called G/BEM (Girls/Boys Education Movement). He is currently pursuing legal studies (Law).
Otsile Idah Modibane
Otsile serves the community in different ways she helps orphans and children in needs of services. She also volunteers at Maboloka hospice to help the sick. Otsile obtained a level 4 in child and youth care certificate provided by the National Association of Child Care Work.
Otsile is planning on registering at the University of Pretoria to study Quality management and techniques. Working at an organisation that brings change to the lives of many people has motivated her to work towards opening a center for people who are addicted to nyaope where they will get medication, therapy and will focus on their talents as a means of empowering them.
Carroll Tshabane
Carroll is a Public Health Professional working for Health Information Systems Programs. She completed her bachelor’s in Public Health with Monash University and did her Postgraduate with the University of South Africa. She is very passionate about people’s health and working towards solving socio-economic issues within her community and surrounding areas. She has developed a passion for health systems policy, health development, health management, and Global Health.
Carroll is very active in her community, working with youth, empowering them and being a role model for other young women around her. She is working towards opening an NGO that will find solutions to problems in rural communities and among young people and to fight unemployment. She is ready to bring back dignity in people by fighting against discrimination amongst the elderly, pregnant young girls, poor people, women, and people living with HIV/AIDS. Mental Health, human rights, lack of information and HIV are some of her biggest focus areas. Carroll aspires to one day work for the United Nations, Unicef, and WHO. She hopes to bring change within her community and South Africa as a whole.
Faniswa Baleti
Faniswa is a young woman who was born and raised in Swartfontein farms. She moved to the location when she was 7 years old and started her schooling in Ntsoanatsatsi Public School. She went on to attend Kgolagano Secondary school in the small town of Rammulotsi Viljoenskroon Free State. After completing high school, she went to study towards her bachelor’s degree at the University of the Free State in Bloemfontein.
In 2018, she graduated from varsity and currently holds a bachelor degree in Social Sciences in Human and Societal Dynamics majoring in Psychology and Criminology. After finishing her tertiary studies, she went back to her home town where she joined Rammulotsi Media House as a journalist, photographer, and editor of the newsletter publication. She is planning to further her studies next year and obtain her honors degree as she has plans to be a qualified psychologist. She is also a member of the YALI Foundation (Young African Leaders Initiative) and has been a member since 2017.
Michelle Joaquina Pires
Michelle is a proud African born in South Africa to hardworking parents from Mozambique and Zimbabwe. She is currently a third-year student at the University of Pretoria doing a triple major in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics. She is currently a community outreach officer and facilitator in the TUKSRES Women in Leadership Academy.
Michelle believes that we all have the responsibility and capability to engage with our communities, to find solutions to the problems our communities face. Be it through creating our own NGO’s or community outreach projects or being more active with our local government offices to demand better government service delivery. She is hopeful about the future of the African continent because our youth are diligently finding solutions. Being a fellow at the Democracy Works Academy, Michelle feels it is a platform that will empower our youth by giving them the tools and skills to run community projects and NGO’s.
Suzan Matlakala Moremi
Suzan is the third born child of her family. She spent the first part of her life around in Thembisa. She was a very bright learner and was active in sports and other extramural activities. She completed her matric in 2014 and took a gap year to recap and find herself. In 2015 she left home to pursue her studies at the University of Limpopo. She completed her degree in 2019.
Keletso Kgalema
Keletso is a deputy secretary for the NPO Steelpoort Academics Network. An organisation founded by young black South Africans who were born and raised in a village called Ga-Mampuru at Steelpoort Limpopo. Keletso went on to further her studies at Sekhukhune Tvet College studying Marketing Management which she completed in June 2017.
Providing support, information and guidance, research and recommending new opportunities and service improvements all these are in line to what she studied be it in marketing or Logistics and supply chain management and to what she is doing through Steelpoort academics network.
Keletso also has a registered company Tlotlang Liam Legacy Pty Ltd. which she is working and planning to own a number of fleets to employ women from rural areas to erase the stereotype that women are only good at chores and the norm that marriage is the only thing that rates one as the most successful in villages. She is mentored by one of the strongest and smart women Ancillar Nombewu Mangena and all that she does is inspired by her work.
Cynthia Vuyelwa Mana
Cynthia was born and raised in a small town of Viljoenskroon in the Free State. She and her younger sister was raised by a single mother. In 2015 she joined GlobalGirl Media South Africa training as a news reporter. In 2018, she completed Community Journalism For Beginners with UNISA.
Cynthia has been working with Rammulotsi Media House for the past 4 years.
Felicia Ntuba Masuku
Felicia is the last of four children. She spent the first part of her life in Limpopo where she went to Mahlahle Primary School. She later moved to Tembisa where she went to Ingqayizivele High School. It was there where she discovered her love for writing as a member of the writing and poetry club. Felicia studied Electrical Engineering at Ekurhuleni East College from 2016-2017. It was during this time when she founded Nduba Foundation, an organisation that donates clothing and school uniform to local communities.
Now a Democracy Works Academy fellow, Unlock’d and Aurum intern, Creative Writing student at UNISA, Nduba Foundation chairperson and a self-proclaimed feminist, Felicia believes in empowering herself to empower women and youth. She lives a life of no regrets, giving all that she possibly can to whatever she does so that should things not go according to plan, she knows there is nothing more she could have given.
Celeste Nobuhle Ndlovu
Celeste is a passion-fueled female. She is an aspiring Philanthropist and desires to empower women who are deprived of education and opportunities. In 2015, Celeste graduated from Bunkerhill College (Boston Massachusetts, USA) and obtained a qualification in Business Administration. During her Academic year in the US, her experience was expanded through an internship program under the Mandrel Company. She also invested her time in community service under Boston Cares. She is currently the Executive of an organization called Entreprenuese. Entrepreneuse is trying to create an impact in areas with limited access to resources. Through skills workshops and the development of digital platforms, Entrepreneuse is attempting to reach a higher number of young women and female-owned start-ups across the country. “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others”, is a quote that resonates with her. Maintaining a positive mindset is one way she rekindles her fire. Celeste strongly believes that Africa is a very powerful nation in every aspect, the youth needs to stand up and do the fixing. She wants to take the initiative of restoring Africa; hence she is investing her time in civic education through the DWA.
