DEAN ZWO NEVHUTALU – CHAIRMAN

Today’s foot soldiers become the anchor of tomorrow’s governance, allowing us to be up-to-date to the challenges of keeping the trust relevant and effective.

When I first came to the trust I was from a rural area that had a lot of repression. I gained strength from the trust and felt that I had a family I could count on in the struggle for justice and liberation. Through the Kagiso Trust I have been exposed to many things and this has contributed greatly to my own personal development, the thinking and the values that I have. Despite the hardships many of us faced fighting for freedom and for the benefit to the country, I can look back now and see this was positively shaping my own character and values. The Kagiso Trust has adapted to the demands of our changing society with great success. I believe that today’s foot soldiers become the anchor of tomorrow’s governance, allowing us to be up-to-date to the challenges of keeping the trust relevant and effective.

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BISHOP TISANE

The history of the institution of Kagiso Trust is fundamentally tied to the individuals that were part of it’s establishment and sustainability.

The vision held by the likes of Eric Molobi and Beyers Naude is still an integral part of our roots and our thinking as an organisation. We have certainly not moved away from the original tenants, but in order to remain contemporary, we continually revisit the nature of our strategy. Rendering services to the new South Africa is different to what we needed to aim for during the struggle, and we have embraced this adaptation as an organisation and as individuals. I am a churchman and bishop and being involved with the trust has increased my understanding of what it means to be engaged in ‘missions’ that know no dominion, race or gender in the fight against poverty eradication.

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ZANELE MBEKI

I believe the organisation is a pioneer in this field and that government can take its leads from the Kagiso Trust.

I have been involved with Kagiso Trust for over 15 years. I think the uniqueness of the Kagiso Trust lies in its origins. It was established during the struggle and since then has been a dedicated civil society organisation that has fought for social development. I believe that the organisation is a pioneer in this field and that government can takes its lead from the Kagiso Trust. All the projects that we are involved in are carefully researched and well thought through, so as to engage with the communities in their target areas. There is no doubt in my mind that the Kagiso Trust of today will outlive many other NGOs – aside from it being an organisation with clear objectives, above everything else, the Kagiso Trust has its own revenue stream and so is not dictated to by donors, government or private sectors and can forge its own path into the future.

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HYLTON APPELBAUM

Being involved in the Kagiso Trust has unquestionably kept me sensitive to the issues related to the disparities of living conditions in South Africa and the plight of the rural poor. The Kagiso Trust helps bridge that divide and I am honoured to be a part of that.

I came on board the Kagiso Trust in 1991, shortly before Eric Molobi became CEO. I found it an extraordinary privilege to be amongst the likes of Molobi, Naude, Philips and Tutu. I felt an immediate connection to these people as we shared a passion for education and development in South Africa. At the time, Eric pre-empted the funding withdrawals and conceptualised the Kagiso Trust becoming a self-sustaining organisation that promoted genuine empowerment while sustaining the ethos of integrity and to this end I learned a great deal. Being involved in the Kagiso Trust has unquestionably kept me sensitive to the issues related to the disparities of living conditions in South Africa and the plight of the rural poor. The Kagiso Trust helps bridge that divide and I am honoured to be a part of that.

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THABISO RATSOMO

I am honoured to be part of an organisation that creates graduates from grassroots levels.

I am honoured to be part of an organisation that creates graduates from grassroots levels, with many of the bursary holders now in top positions in government and business spheres in South African today. The management and leadership skills I have today I can attribute to almost entirely to the Kagiso Trust. It is the only space that provided the platforms for people like me to develop in this way. During my time with the trust I have studied for a variety of degrees and diplomas and I know that my experience with the trust has developed my education and skills to a level that has contributed largely towards my achievements during my studies.

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GIRLIE SILINDA

The Kagiso Trust brand represents integrity and trustworthiness, and we should always remain true to this.

I love my interaction with the fellow trustees; every time I leave a quarterly board meeting or trustee gathering, I leave feeling enriched and that I have learnt something from each and every one of the board members.

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MANKONI NTSABA

You can only learn if you’re challenged.

I am very proud to be associated with organisation and firmly believe that Kagiso Trust is helping to fill the gaps in education caused by apartheid. The first year of my service on the board has been extremely challenging. I joined in the midst of the financial crisis, where many large companies were choking under the pressure and pulling out of investments but we had to ensure that we kept afloat – and we did. As a team we responded and adapted to political changes in our government and education arenas. It was very challenging, but you can only learn if you are challenged.

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NTHOBAKAE ANGEL

Chairperson of Kagiso Trust Investments.

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REVEREND FRANK CHIKANE

Reverend Frank Chikane became involved in the Black Consciousness Movement while studying science at the University of the North. His leadership of protests at the university resulted in his expulsion and he worked in the Apostolic Faith Mission (AFM) as a layman before being ordained a minister in 1980. His advocacy within the church of social programmes such as a soup kitchen and adult education led to his suspension from the AFM. Chikane joined the Institute for Contextual Theology, a Christian think-tank within the South African Council of Churches, which promoted liberation theology, and, in 1987, succeeded Dr Beyers Naudé as general secretary of the SACC. He was Director General of the Presidency under President Thabo Mbeki.

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BONGIWE NJOBE

Bongiwe Njobe is currently Executive Director for Corporate Sustainability at Tiger Brands Ltd. Previously she served as a Director of Corporate Affairs at SAB Ltd and was Director-General of the National Department of Agriculture from 1997 to 2005. She is Chairperson of the South African National Biodiversity Institute and a member of the IAC Study Panel on harnessing Agricultural Science for Africa.

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DR. GOOLAM ABOOBAKER

Dr. Goolam Aboobaker, physicist, economist and political activist, worked in the ANC’s underground structures during the apartheid era. He was a founding member of the Human Rights Committee in Durban, worked on housing action committees in Natal and the Cape and served on the executive of the United Democratic Front (Western Cape Region), the Executive Council of the University of the Western Cape Association of Democratic Educators and was treasurer of the Union of Democratic University Staff Association from 1989-1990. He was Deputy Director General (and Deputy Head) of the Policy Unit in the Presidency during President Thabo Mbeki’s term of office.

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PROFESSOR WISEMAN NKUHLU

Professor Wiseman Nkuhlu, who was economic adviser to President Thabo Mbeki and chairman of the steering committee of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development, spent two years on Robben Island for membership of a banned organisation and, while working as a clerk on a goldmine, completed his schooling by correspondence. He later studied for a B Com degree at Fort Hare university and, in 1976, qualified as the first black chartered accountant in South Africa. Considered an important player in the area of socio-economic development in South Africa, he has served as chairman of the Development Bank of South Africa, which provides loans for projects such as housing and entrepreneurial development, and as chief executive of the Independent Development Trust.

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