Motsepe Foundation

World Economic Forum estimates that at our current rate, achieving gender equality could take 134 years. While we anticipate amazing advancements in innovation and changes in how we live and work, we must stay dedicated to ensuring that prosperity is shared by all. #sla

Today we’re honouring women of light!    The Motsepe Foundation proudly presents the Shining Light Awards to celebrate the extraordinary women who, like sparks, ignite our courage and determination. Their leadership lights the way for us to awaken our own ambitions and explore new possibilities.   Their stories inspire, and their actions light the path to a brighter future for all.    Watch it LIVE on our Facebook page: https://lnkd.in/dm9BKKuu   #ShiningLightAwards #SLA #WomensMonth

Sophie Mokoena’s career was shaped by apartheid and South Africa’s transition into democracy. Born in the rural town of Frankfurt in the Free State, she pursued a Teacher’s Diploma in 1991. She was appointed Student Council Leader and during the lead up to the first democratic elections in South Africa she introduced student empowerment programmes that provided voter education, democracy training, non-violent conflict resolution, and other necessary skills. While a student leader at Sebokeng College of Education, she also brought diverse stakeholders together in an effort to create cultures of tolerance, and to facilitate new international opportunities for black students. In 1994, she joined the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) as a monitor in then trouble torn Vaal communities: Sharpeville, Sebokeng, Boipatong, Bophelong, Evaton, Vanderbijlpark, Vereeniging. Working in service of South Africa’s transition to democracy, she also discovered and nurtured a keen and balanced command, understanding, and insight of political, social, international and national issues. After the elections, she joined SABC as a reporter and presenter of current affairs. In her rise to International News Editor at SABC, she has interviewed heads of state among other influential figures, using her work to emphasise the importance of integrity in sustaining the hard-won gains of South Africa’s democracy. Her contributions embody a lifelong commitment to social responsibility, attuned to the needs of her surroundings and seeking opportunities to make a meaningful impact. #WomensMonth #SLA

Born and raised in an urban upbringing in Gauteng, Likgapha Mbatha is a lawyer by training, earning her Master of Law at the University of Lesotho before becoming a leader of the National Movement for Rural Women (NMRW) in 1998. Upon completing her Master of Law, she worked as a legal researcher at the University of Witwatersrand where she spearheaded gender studies initiatives and wrote various chapters and academic articles to promote women’s rights. During this time, since 1993, she also worked as a volunteer for the NMRW, offering her expertise to grow the organisation, register the organisation for government tenders, and establish its record of impact. She worked alongside Lydia Komape-Ngwenya, founder of NMRW, who immersed her in the lives and perspectives of rural women. Since then, she has worked and lived to understand the challenges facing rural women. In 1998, when the organisation was self-sufficient, she retired from Wits and was appointed as the organisation’s Managing Director. She overseas their operations in four provinces: Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northwest, and KwaZulu Natal where they support women-dominated projects in agriculture, confectionary, construction and crafts. The projects organised by NMRW are wholly owned by community members and assist with improving food security and eradicating rural poverty. The organisation’s support for women-owned businesses is designed to foster financial empowerment and build confidence among women entrepreneurs. This creates a positive cycle of recognition for their diverse contributions. Due to her academic background, she has prioritised implementing solutions based on research findings. This approach stands as her distinctive contribution as a leader, allowing the organisation to influence law and policy development. Their research gathered is used to make submissions to Parliament and the National Council of Provinces’ reports and bills. Since 1998, the NMRW has supported over 2384 direct beneficiaries, and approximately 12,000 indirect community members #WomensMonth #SLA

Born in Oukasie, in Gauteng, Rose Molokoane grew up as one of ten children. She grew up in a home built by bricks made by her mother and father. Her upbringing was one of wealth in love and very few material possessions. In her early years, she worked as a shop steward, where she found herself negotiating on behalf of workers being fired. This led to her work with unions and her appointment as Chairperson of the Shop Steward Committee. Singing songs of resistance gave her the confidence to become a union leader and a strong voice in worker rights. But after her dismissal, due to employer resistance, she began identifying alternatives pathways for community empowerment. She volunteered at the local school and Catholic church before joining an exchange programme in to India to learn about a housing saving scheme. In 1992, she launched what would become the largest South African savings scheme, targeting women. The women in the scheme would pool their savings and build their own homes, helping one another carry bricks and mix cement. She promoted a unique approach that would connect communities and inspire their own resolutions: She put an emphasis on love and respect for one another, ensuring that dignity was sustained and shared among the poor and homeless. In 1995, Nelson Mandela visited Oukasie to address and recognise the work of FEDUP. Thereafter, she was instrumental in crafting the progressive housing policy and was a signatory to the Botsebelo Housing Accord in 1996. Two decades later, her co-founded Homeless People’s Federation of South Africa brought together more than 55,000 households and 750 homeless communities to build 12,000 homes, while providing incremental loans for the building of thousands more houses. In 2015, she co-founded the Federation of the Urban Poor (FEDUP) where she has helped more than 150 000 squatters pools their savings for infrastructure. During her work mobilising the poor, she has travelled the world, meeting leaders including Pope Francis and Kofi Annan, spreading a message of dignity and care for the poor. She continues her struggle for development in poor communities as a stakeholder of various global organisations. #womensmonth #SLA

Born with a congenital birth defect, in Seshego in Pretoria, Kgothatso Montjane had her left leg amputated at 12-years-old. As an active child, she didn’t let her disability stop her from playing with her peers. At 19-years-old, whilst studying at Helen Franz School in Limpopo she was introduced to the sport. Without a tennis court, her school would create a makeshift net with chairs in the school hall. This creative training approach worked, propelling her towards earning national colours before representing the country at the Beijing and London Olympics. Eight years later, in 2013, she earned her a place in the Australian Open where she discovered a new world of competitive tennis. She was supported to compete in international tournaments by Former First Lady Mbeki, among other lucrative sponsors including Discovery, Avon, Nike and Dunlop. With this support, she became the first black African to compete at all 4 grand slams in one calendar in 2019, the first black South African to win a Roland Garros Grand Slam in 2023, and the first South African woman to win a French Open title in 2023 since 1981. Recently, in 2024, she became the first South African winner of Wimbledon since 1983. Amidst her championships, she has established a philanthropic foundation to build infrastructure that will enable more people with disabilities to discover and live their wildest dreams. With every victory, she passionately shares her successes with the nation, embodying what we can all achieve when we face challenges with confidence and determination. #WomensMonth #SLA 🎬 Beautiful News

Andile Matukane, born in Bushbuckridge and raised in the surrounds of the Kruger National Park, had a longstanding desire to be different. In her network of family and friends, where her mother and father are teachers, no one was a farmer. She graduated with a diploma in agricultural crop production from the University of Mpumalanga, a BTech in agricultural crop production from Tshwane university of technology, earning her master’s in plant pathology in 2019. When she began farming in 2014, she was known as the Spinach Lady, for her nurturing of healthy and fresh greens. While honing her talents in their home plot in Mpumalanga, she mentored and guided others to establish a family-owned enterprise that commercially produces pigs and goats. Her green thumb, combined with poultry farming, led to her founding Farmers Choice in 2018 on the roof of one of South Africa’s biggest shopping centres. In Pretoria, she launched the hydroponic rooftop farming initiative to build her vision of rooftop to restaurant fresh vegetables. The innovative idea for rooftop farming was born from the limited availability of farmland in the city, despite the heightened demand for produce. Now, through Farmers Choice she works to embed innovation into the food production cycle while mentoring and coaching upcoming farmers. #WomensMonth #SLA 🎬 Private Property | The Farming Show

Sophia Williams-De Bruyn is a servant of the people who contributed towards the defeat of the apartheid state. She began working at a textile factory while still a young girl, without completing her senior certificate. It was there that she encountered anti-apartheid giants including Govan Mbeki, Francis Baard, Guss Coe, and others who generously offered her guidance and care. Her work in the textile factory focused her attention towards resolving the concerns of working people. As one of the founding members of the South African Congress of Trade Unions, she supported the coming together of the ANC and SACTU under shared aims. Within the Congress Movement she participated in campaigns organised by the Congress of the People in Kiliptown. Her role as organiser of the JHB Coloured People’s Congress involved mobilising women around the many issues that affected them. Ahead of the historic 1956 march, women across the country raised funds to travel to the Union Buildings. With little resources and support, Ahmed Kathrada, Robert Resha and Norman Levey accompanied Lillian Ngoyi, Helen Joseph, Bertha Mashaba, Rahima Moosa, Ruth Mompathi, and Sophie Williams De-Bruyn to different parts of the country to mobilise the interests of women. Thereafter, in exile for two decades, she furthered her education with the support of her family and the ANC. In Zambia she established the Education Council for the education and training of ANC Cadres, in Namibia she established a Commerce Administration and Secretarial Science Unit to build the capacity of young ANC cadres in exile, and upon her return to South Africa she served as Head of the Administration during the first Consultative Conference to legalise the ANC. In June 1996 the Award Class, Silver, was bestowed on her, by former President Nelson Mandela, for Meritorious services in the interest of the general public. She has continued to serve government and civil society in various capacities. #WomensMonth #SLA 🎬 21 Icons

In 1956, over 20,000 women from diverse backgrounds united in Pretoria, bridging gaps of class, race, and culture with a shared vision for equality. Sisterhood and solidarity challenges patriarchal systems, benefiting not just women, but men and children as well. We must harness this collective strength for meaningful change and true equality for all ✊🏼 ✊🏾 ✊🏽 ✊🏻 #happywomensday #womensmonth

Calling all innovators! The deadline to register for the Milken-Motsepe Prize in FinTech is tomorrow, August 6. This is your opportunity to use cutting-edge technology to expand access to capital and financial services for small businesses in emerging and frontier markets. Register by August 6. Link here: https://lnkd.in/daYCAVD9 The Milken-Motsepe Prize in FinTech is designed to expand access to capital and financial services for small businesses in emerging and frontier markets. This innovation award offers $2 million in total prizes, including a $1 million Grand Prize. Participating companies will also gain access to networking and pitching opportunities. Registration is free and open globally. The Grand Prize will be announced and celebrated at the Milken Institute’s 2025 Global Conference in Los Angeles, California. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gCt9WgNa #FinTech #innovation #entrepreneurship #change #future #financialtechnology #disruptors #Africa #MilkenInstitute #MotsepeFoundation