Sibongile (Bongi) Mkhabela, a development practitioner, social worker by profession and an activist by orientation. Ms Mkhabela, a development institution builder, is currently the Executive Director of Barloworld Empowerment Foundation (BWEF), a non-profitnon-pro organisation that seeks to ignite individual self-belief and unleash resilient and thriving communities through application of innovative measures including advocacy and story-telling. Ms. Mkhabela is notably the former Chief Executive Officer of the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund (NMCF) as well as the initiator of the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital Trust (NMCH Trust). In 1994 Mkhabela was enlisted into the Office of the then Deputy President Thabo Mbeki, as Director of Programmes, Projects and Coordinator of a legislative process leading to the establishment of the National Development Agency (NDA). She also led the implementation of the Children’s Charter The roots of Mkhabela’s lifetime activism trace back to her youth and student days. She served as Secretary General of the South African Student Movement (SASM). She also served on Soweto Student Representative Council (SSRC) which steered the nationwide June 16, 1976, uprisings credited for the beginning of the end of apartheid.

Her personal story of the Soweto uprisings is captured in her book, Open Earth and Black Roses. Mkhabela a Social Work graduate of the University of Zululand is also a Joel L. Fleishman Civil Society Fellow at Duke University in North Carolina, USA. She completed her post-graduate Business Management studies with the University of the Witwatersrand Business School in Johannesburg.Mkhabela was awarded the following: Ellen Khuzwayo Council Award, University of Johannesburg, for commitment to Community Development and the advancement of Children’s Rights (2011) Rockefeller Foundation Fellowship which included a three-month residency at Bellagio in Italy. (2017) The South African National Order of Luthuli in Silver for her role in social justice and children advocacy (2018) Nelson Mandela University, Doctor of Philosophy honoris causa ((2019) Knight of the French National Order of Merit for fostering Collaborations between SA and France for the benefit of all children. (2021) Mkhabela serves on the following boards Trust Africa, Firelight, Global Philanthropy Alliance, NEDBANK Wealth Foundation. Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital