Grocott's Mail
  • NEWS
    • Courts & Crime
    • Features
    • Politics
    • People
    • Health & Well-being
  • SPORT
    • News
    • Results
    • Sports Diary
    • Club Contacts
    • Columns
    • Sport Galleries
    • Sport Videos
  • OPINION
    • Election Connection
    • Makana Voices
    • Deur ‘n Gekleurde Bril
    • Newtown… Old Eyes
    • Incisive View
    • Your Say
  • ARTSLIFE
    • Cue
    • Makana Sharp!
    • Visual Art
    • Literature
    • Food & Fun
    • Festivals
    • Community Arts
    • Going Places
  • OUR TOWN
    • What’s on
    • Spiritual
    • Emergency & Well-being
    • Safety
    • Civic
    • Municipality
    • Weather
    • Properties
      • Grahamstown Properties
    • Your Town, Our Town
  • OUTSIDE
    • Enviro News
    • Gardening
    • Farming
    • Science
    • Conservation
    • Motoring
    • Pets/Animals
  • ECONOMIX
    • Business News
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Personal Finance
  • EDUCATION
    • Education NEWS
    • Education OUR TOWN
    • Education INFO
  • Covid-19
  • EDITORIAL
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Trending
  • Abalone poacher nabbed in Makhanda
  • Brumbies taste defeat under controversial circumstances
  • Another Makhanda boxing legend passes away
  • Luyolo Matiwane makes the Eastern Cape under-17 team
  • RMR 89.7 FM celebrates radio licence renewal
  • As whistleblowers come forward, it’s our duty to protect them
  • Makhanda Fire Brigade praised by residents
  • Two deaths shock Makhanda
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Grocott's Mail
  • NEWS
    • Courts & Crime
    • Features
    • Politics
    • People
    • Health & Well-being
  • SPORT
    • News
    • Results
    • Sports Diary
    • Club Contacts
    • Columns
    • Sport Galleries
    • Sport Videos
  • OPINION
    • Election Connection
    • Makana Voices
    • Deur ‘n Gekleurde Bril
    • Newtown… Old Eyes
    • Incisive View
    • Your Say
  • ARTSLIFE
    • Cue
    • Makana Sharp!
    • Visual Art
    • Literature
    • Food & Fun
    • Festivals
    • Community Arts
    • Going Places
  • OUR TOWN
    • What’s on
    • Spiritual
    • Emergency & Well-being
    • Safety
    • Civic
    • Municipality
    • Weather
    • Properties
      • Grahamstown Properties
    • Your Town, Our Town
  • OUTSIDE
    • Enviro News
    • Gardening
    • Farming
    • Science
    • Conservation
    • Motoring
    • Pets/Animals
  • ECONOMIX
    • Business News
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Personal Finance
  • EDUCATION
    • Education NEWS
    • Education OUR TOWN
    • Education INFO
  • Covid-19
  • EDITORIAL
Grocott's Mail
You are at:Home»OUR TOWN»Thought leader, social entrepreneur
OUR TOWN

Thought leader, social entrepreneur

Grocott's Mail ContributorsBy Grocott's Mail ContributorsOctober 23, 2020Updated:October 26, 2020No Comments2 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
JM UCT Woman's Day event. Photo: University of Cape Town/Je’nine May

By MZUKISI MPAHLWA

Born and bred in Makhanda, formerly known as Grahamstown, Dr Vuyokazi Mahlati was a sterling example of the fact that where you were born doesn’t necessarily determine what you will become. Coming from a small town such as Makhanda, Dr Mahlati’s life is a great example of what can be achieved through hard work and dedication. She was an inspirational role model to young women throughout the country.

Dr Mahlathi is the daughter of the late Benjamin “Buschie” Zondani (BB Zondani). During his political career BB Zondani led the resistance campaign against the forced removals of the Fingo Village ratepayers and that of the black people of then Grahamstown to Committee’s Drift near Fort Brown.

The forced removals in Makhanda followed those of East London to Mdantsane. Because of the role he played during these turbulent times, BB Zondani Hall was named after him as a way to acknowledge him for the role he played in this resistance against forced removal.

Dr Mahlati was a South African social entrepreneur, a gender activist and the global director of the International Women’s Forum. She was the President of the African Farmers Association of South Africa (AFASA), as well as the Chairperson of the Advisory Panel on Land Reform and Agriculture. She was serving her second term as a member of South Africa’s National Planning Commission.

She founded Africa’s first indigenous wool processing plant, “Ivili Loboya” (wheel of wool) in Butterworth, in the Eastern Cape, where she taught unemployed people how to make cashmere garments. She was the recipient of the 2019 Woman of Substance award presented by the African Women Chartered Accountants.

Dr Mahlati was a recognised global thought leader, who participated in global think tanks on corporate diversity leadership and inclusive development.  Dr Mahlati sadly passed away after a short illness on 12 October 2020.

On behalf of Makana Municipality and all its residents I wish to express our heartfelt condolences to the Mahlati and Zondani families for the loss of this exceptional woman. We are very proud of the role she has played. She represented us very well in all the leadership roles she undertook.

We dip our banner in honour of this extraordinary woman of substance for her sterling contribution in the upliftment of the women of our community.

  • Councillor Mzukisi Mpahlwa is the Executive Mayor of Makana Municipality.
Previous ArticleCovid-19 tertiary campaign to come to Makhanda
Next Article MEC probes ex-Makana Director’s appointment
Grocott's Mail Contributors

Grocott's Mail Contributors includes content submitted by members of the public, and public and private institutions and organisations - regular and occasional, expert and citizen, opinion and analysis.

Comments are closed.

Tweets by Grocotts
Newsletter



Listen

The Rhodes University Community Engagement Division has launched Engagement in Action, a new podcast which aims to bring to life some of the many ways in which the University interacts with communities around it. Check it out below.

Humans of Makhanda

Humans of Makhanda

Weather    |     About     |     Advertise     |     Subscribe     |     Contact     |     Support Grocott’s Mail

© 2023 Maintained by School of Journalism & Media Studies.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.