OUR TEAM

Saul Molobi (FCIM)

Group Chief Executive Officer and Chairman: the Brandhill Africa™ group 

(saul.molobi@brandhillafrica.com)

Saul Molobi is a GLOBAL SPEAKER, AUTHOR, BUSINESS PUBLISHER, BROADCASTER, CONSULTANT AND EXPERT COMMENTATOR on brand Africa, diplomacy and cultural industries. He is the founding Group Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Brandhill Africa™ group. Other companies in the Group are Brandhill Africa Investment Holdings (Pty) Ltd, Brandhill Africa Institute (Pty) Ltd, Brandhill Africa Media Holdings (Pty) Ltd, Brandhill Africa Entertainment Holdings (Pty) Ltd and Brandhill Africa Foundation NPC. The last one is a not-for-profit CIPC-registered company that drives the Group’s corporate social investment (CSI) programmes and project manages CSI programmes of other corporate companies effectively, cost-efficiently and sustainably.

He is touted by many as one of the foremost marketing thought leaders on competitive identity and public diplomacy with vast experience in international business (specialising in global marketing with focus on destination marketing, trade and investment promotion); diplomacy (specialising in economic and public diplomacies); and development of sustainable cultural industries. He is also a published author, filmmaker and a theatre practitioner.

He is a Fellow of the UK’s Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM); a member of the Institute of Marketing Management (IMM) – an affiliate of the African Confederation of Marketing (ACM); and also a member of the Marketing Association of South Africa (MASA).

In 2022 and 2020 he was nominated as the “World CEO of the Year” by the US-based the World CEO Rankings which in 2022 ranked him as number 16 out of 620 nominees world-wide – making him the second highest ranked in Africa.

Although he grew up in a rural village, New Eersterus in Hammanskraal, that didn’t have a high school, he still valued education and today he holds several university qualifications: BA from University of Limpopo; BA (Honours) and Master of Arts in Dramatic Art from the University of the Witwatersrand; a Post-Graduate Diploma from the IMM Graduate School of Marketing; and an MSc in Global Marketing from the University of Liverpool. 

His academic research areas included the impact of the 2010 FIFA World Cup 2010 on the brand equity of Polokwane as a host city; how a country’s competitive identity impact on investor decision making; and currently on brand Africa’s impact on foreign consumer decision making – he uses the South African non-fortified wine exports as his case study and he intends developing a brand management framework for Africa (based on Africa integrating into a free trade area through the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement that became operationalised from 1 January 2021).

He has also received vocational training in public diplomacy and international relations at the University of Southern California, the Netherlands’ Institute of International Relations (Clingendal) and Diplo Foundation (Swiss/Malta governments’ initiative).

He is also a former diplomat having worked as the South African Consul-General in Milan from 1 April 2012 to 30 June 2016. During his tenure, he also served as South Africa’s Commissioner to the national pavilion at the Venice Art Biennale and the alternating Venice Architecture Biennale. The Foreword to his latest book, “De/constructing brand Africa: A Practitioner’s Perspective“, was written by H.E. Mr Wamkele Mene, Secretary-General of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The book looks at how Africa and her countries could be brand positioned as viable destinations for tourism and investment while at the same time how to promote “Made in Africa” service and product brands for effective market penetration. One chapter in the book looks at how he used the Nelson Mandela iconoclasm as a strategic public diplomacy imperative in communicating South Africa’s foreign policy (he fundraised from the private sector to mount a mural in Milan dedicated to Nelson Mandela and the erection of the Nelson Mandela statue outside the South African Consulate-General’s offices – both serve to this day as tourist attractions in Milan). And the “Foreword to his 2020 book, “Sounds and Fury: The Chronicles of Healing“, was written by H.E. Mr Kgalema Motlanthe, the former President of the Republic of South Africa. Although the title suggests the book focuses on the year he spent in hospital, it only uses this as a context to reflect on major events in his life.

in 2014 he conceived and hosted the inaugural “South Africa Week/Settimana del Sudafrica” in which trade and investment opportunities from South Africa were promoted to the business community in Milan – and these included products from the country being promoted in restaurants and retail shops. The South Africa-Italy Business Awards were inaugurated and the best Italian investors in South Africa were given recognition at a business gala dinner attended by over 200 captains of the industry. He unveiled, with Mayor Giuliano Pisapia of Milan, a mural dedicated to Nelson Mandela that celebrated South Africa’s twentieth anniversary of freedom for which he had solicited sponsorship from the City of Milan municipality and Italian companies that had invested in South Africa – the mural serves as the city’s tourist attraction even today.

As only three African countries (South Africa, Senegal and Burkina Faso) had fully fledged Consulates-General and Angola had a trade office in Milan, he often found himself having to answer questions regarding socio-economic developments in Africa from business leaders in economic seminars, workshops and conferences, he then decided to launch and host the “Africa Week/Settimana dell’Africa” to celebrate the Africa Month in Milan in 2015 in partnership with the Consulates-General, Honorary Consuls and a number of the Rome-based African ambassadors.

This event that attracted South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, the Minister of Tourism and entrepreneurs from across the continent to attend the unveiling of the Nelson Mandela statue (for which he secured full sponsorship from a South African business); the Burkina Faso Day; and a week-long seminar promoting trade and investment opportunities from Africa.

It was the success of these events that made it possible for him to convince Ambrosetti, a Milan-based think tank, to move their annual Italy-South Africa CEO Summit from Cape Town to Johannesburg to make it more accessible to southern African countries from 2016. The event has since evolved into an annual EU-SADC CEO Dialogue hosted in Johannesburg.

This last event inspired him to establish Brandhill Africa (Pty) Ltd a month before completing his diplomatic tenure in June 2016 as a platform to promote investment opportunities from Africa and to help open foreign market access opportunities for “Made in Africa” service and product brands. The company mobilises foreign direct investments for a number of infrastructure projects from South Africa, Mozambique, Mozambique, Democratic Republic of Congo, Congo Republic, Ghana and Tanzania.

Before his diplomatic posting to Italy, he previously played an oversight role in the development of the corporate identity of the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) – which ultimately influenced the corporate identity of the South African government. While at the dti, he championed a multi-media campaign, aptly titled “Uzoyi ‘thola kanjani o hleli ‘khoneni“, which sought to inspire South Africans through using popular music to become entrepreneurial.

Inspired by the legacy of Mapungubwe, he also designed a multimedia campaign to reposition the Limpopo (one of the nine South African provinces) brand from “Africa’s garden of Eden” to “the heartland of southern Africa” in 2005 – the province still uses this brand positioning to this day. This brand mantra has today gained traction with the launch of the Musina-Makhado Special Economic Zone which will re-establish Limpopo as southern African regional hub.

He has a full spectrum of experience from various backgrounds. In the private sector, he worked as Publishing Director for Heinemann Publishers and Co-Commercial Director for Heinemann Higher and Further Education. Spending much of his professional life in the public sector, he occupied executive positions in both state-owned enterprises and government departments. In the SOE sector, he served as Senior Manager: Corporate Communication for Telkom; General Manager: Marketing and Communications at Trade and Investment Limpopo; most recently as Group Executive: Trade, Investment and Regulatory Enablement at the Gauteng Growth and Development Agency). In government departments, he was Chief Director: Marketing Communications at the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition; General Manager: Provincial Communication Services at Office of the Premier in Limpopo; and later Chief Director: Public Diplomacy at the Department of International Relations and Cooperation). He joined the world of work through the civil society sector as Editor-in-Chief at Learn & Teach Publications and Director for the Independent Magazine Group – a group of anti-apartheid publishing companies.

He is also a former executive member of the Polokwane Chamber of Business. Recently, he was elected into the national Steering Committee of the National Writers Association of South Africa (an affiliate of the Pan African Writers Association).

A former student leader at the University of Limpopo and an underground operative of the then banned African National Congress (ANC), he spent thirteen months in detention under the draconian State of Emergency during the second half of the 1980s. The emergency regulations gave apartheid security agents unlimited powers to indefinitely detain without trial their opponents.

A committed cultural worker, in 2001 he was shortlisted for the coveted Sunday Times‘ Bessie Head Fellowship for his proposed project on the life and times of the “Wire Gang” – a notorious gang that terrorised Johannesburg townships of Alexandra and Soweto.

He is the Editor and Publisher of Jambo Africa Online (a weekly news portal established in September 2020) and Convenor of the annual Biashara Services and Products Africa (BiSPA) Conference and Exhibition. Both platforms promote “Made in Africa” service and product brands.

This year and last year he curated the Human Rights Book Faire on behalf of the Constitution Hill at this historic Johannesburg facility. This has attracted many authors, independent publishers and book retailers. A social entrepreneur, he also serves as a Trustee to the Dr Molefi Sefularo Foundation NPC that advocates for the provision of quality healthcare to all.

He now also presents a jazz music show, “Sunset Serenade”, on 101.9 Chai FM giving prominence to African jazz. This comes after having served from December 2018 to December 2020 as a co-host of a monthly slot on Power 98,7 FM mainstreaming issues affecting persons with disabilities. He is regularly featured in various radio and television stations as a commentator on brand Africa (listen to the podcasts on this website under the “Media” button). 

Lebogang Nkadimeng

Deputy Chairperson (Non-Executive): Brandhill Africa Foundation NPC

(lebogang.nkadimeng@brandhillafrica.com)

Born in a small village of Manganeng in Limpopo, 9 November 1985, the Johannesburg-based Lebogang Nkadimeng has gone from humble beginnings to one of the youngest Mining Specialists in the country, respected philanthropist, a great public speaker and a distinguished MC.

Her life story is not one of riches or a fairy tale come true in modern-day South Africa. But Lebo (as she is generally known) has applied a lot of planning, hard work and determination to achieve all she has in her life. She started out as an intern to becoming the youngest Black Female Manager in the Mining Company – and currently, she’s the Governance Manager for Sustainability at AngloGold Ashanti South Africa Region. Her core competences include the social license for the operatation of the company through management of regulated Social and Labour Plans, Community Investment Initiatives, Corporate Governance and Stakeholder Engagement.

The group, particularly Brandhill Africa Foundation NPC, will indeed benefit from her vast experience in corporate communications, compiling sustainability reports of A+ level, gold market investor relations reports, internal communications articles. Strong working knowledge of corporate reporting frameworks/standards such as the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), International Council of Mining and Metals (ICMM), Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), King III and United Nations Global Compact (UNGC).

Lebo attributes some of her success to being street smart, taking risks, not taking no for an answer and surrounding herself with the best brains in the business. All these qualities add to sheer commitment to achieving excellence through diligence and sheer chutzpah.

This young Woman in Mining star’s education journey began in Ekurhuleni, matriculating at Springs Girls High School in 2003. She holds a Degree in Bachelor of Social Science and an Honours Degree in Social Sciences specialising in Psychology – both obtained from the University of Pretoria. Not one to think that is enough, she is also University of Cape Town’s Business School Graduate in Management and underwent a Sustainability Practices programme from the University of Cambridge. As if it isn’t enough, she is currently a postgraduate student at Monash International University.

With all her academic achievements Lebo often remarks that her future was shaped by being born into a family that was involved in politics and still is currently. This gave her an opportunity to interact with people from all walks of life which influenced her decision to get involved in various community development initiatives.

Operating under the phrase #LeboSpeaks as a the CEO of LeboSpeaks Media, this young woman is known for her charismatic personality, fashion flair and zest for life which she has turned into a personal career to be an MC for all types of occasions, she is also involved in charity work and motivational speaking and it is for this reason she has a large social media following. She has been a speaker and MC at various business functions, women’s day events, school events motivating young girls and raising awareness on various health topics, particularly asthma which she is passionate about as a chronic patient.

Tshepo Molobi

Group Chief Executive Officer: Brandhill Africa Entertainment Holdings (Pty) Ltd and Brandhill Africa Foundation NPC and Brandhill Africa (Pty) Ltd

(tshepo.molobi@brandhillafrica.com)

She has a long history in the marketing and communications industry. She registered a company, Seventh Question Marketing and Communications, in 2006 based in Limpopo and the company launched two district newspapers – namely, the Waterberg News and the Capricorn News. These publications were supported by the Department of Local Government and Human Settlements as it bridged the lack digital and information divide between government and communities. The two newspapers were highly successful.

Then from there in 2009 she moved to Pretoria where she also branched into event management and media relations for the Sedibeng District Municipality. She was contracted as an agency to profile the Executive Mayor. She did this by arranging media interviews for him with various radio stations like Kaya FM, Lesedi FM and local community radio stations. The highlight of this campaign included the Executive Mayor being featured on the Justice Malala’s show on eTV and SABC’s “Morning Live Show”. She also opened and managed social media accounts for the Executive Mayor.

Her company also project managed the inaugural Sedibeng District’s Mayoral Awards in 2012. She featured the premier songstress, Zahara, on the programme, and the renowned broadcaster, Bob Mabena, directed the programme.

Even before starting her own company she worked as a promotions agent for a number of companies promoting products in-stores and outdoor media campaigns.

In 2012 her husband was appointed a Consul-General of South Africa to Milan and they had to accompany him to Italy as a family. That meant she was no longer allowed to do business since she was receiving an allowance from government as an accompanying spouse. She’s back after spending four and a half years. Besides pursuing her academic studies through UNISA, she also performed her mandatory work as an accompanying spouse.

While in Italy she performed a number of duties in support of the South African Consulate-General that included hosting ministerial delegations and dignitaries. This gave her experience of protocol services and etiquette. It also honed her event management competencies. She has also attended official meetings/ceremonies where her husband was invited. During her spare time, she also supported civil society organisations including NGOs that cared for underprivileged communities in Africa.

By the way in order to sharpen her skills she has completed a number of marketing programmes through UNISA – and these included a Programme in International Marketing, Programme in Marketing Management and Advanced Programme in Marketing Management. Marketing is key because she believes all good communications and public relations are based on good marketing principles – she indeed adds value to any project she undertakes. With her international experience garnered in Italy (and also her extensive travelling to other countries), her clients are bound to benefit from her expertise.

Back in South Africa on 30 June 2016, with the experience of celebrating culture, arts and heritage garnered in Europe and north America, she broadened the strategic reach of 7th Question Marketing and Communications to undertake educational tours and excursions for high schools to national museums and tourism facilities. Brandhill Africa provides her with the opportunity to establish and deepen inter-cultural links between Africa and the other continents.

Dr Nomalanga Sibeko

Group Deputy Chairperson – the Brandhill Africa™ group 

(nomalanga.sibeko@brandhillafrica.com)

Dr Nomalanga Precious Sibeko was in the earlier cohorts of South Africa’s youth to be shipped to Cuba, led by the legendary Fidel Castro, for training as medical doctors as part of the socialist republic’s commitment to the reconstruction and development of the newly-liberated South Africa. She completed the MBCHB degree at the Villa Clara University in 2005.

The sophistry medical science of Cuba is recently celebrated by the entire world as the country’s medical corps are deployed in the so-called first world countries as the frontline regiment in containing the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Cuban solidarity, that began during the anti-apartheid and anti-colonial struggles, continues today as the country continues to deploy their doctors in the rural and under-resourced provinces of South Africa.

Before Joining Steve Biko Academic Hospital, she worked at Themba Hospital in Mpumalanga Province from 2005 to 2006. Here she served in various departments – namely, Emergency Medicine; Internal Medicine; Surgery and Orthopaedics; Paediatrics and Neonatology; and, Gynaecology and Obstetrics. 

She then moved to the Tshwane District Hospital in Pretoria from 2008 to 2009 where she served in five departments – namely, Emergency Medicine; Internal Medicine; Pediatrics and Neonatology; and, Immunology Clinic: HIV and TB.

From 2009 ton2011 she joined the Foundation for Professional Development serving in the Department of Infectious Diseases.

With the principle of life-long learning engraved on her DNA, she registered with the University of Pretoria where she pursued a course specialising in Internal Medicine attached to the Steve Biko Academic Hospital from 2011 to 2017. She did rotation work in General Internal Medicine; Cardiology Ward; Cardiology Critical Care Unit; Nephrology and Nephrology Intensive Unit Care; Pulmonology and Criticsl Care; Endocrinology; Hermatology; Rheumatology; and Neurology. She has already passed FCP (SA) for Physicians Part I and she’s awaiting results for FCP (SA) for Physicians Part II.

While at Steve Biko Academic Hospital she attended to all infectious patients admitted in the institution for management and Infectious Clinic was established to follow up complicated cases, which mostly were treated based on their unique presentations.  Her research work was then based in this department.

After a maternity break, she then moved to the Northern Cape where she was recruited by Vedanta Black Mountain Hospital – working at the clinic and after hours at the hospital. Her duties include attending medical cases at the mine including Injuries on duty, chronic and Emergency cases; and, screening and testing for COVID-19 infections. Since the hospital is privately owned by the mine, all Mine Personnel including their families are covered by Medical Aid.

In a nutshell, her illustrious experience is in treatment of Infectious Diseases; Teaching and mentoring Medical Students from 4th to 6th year of Medicine; Critical Care Management; Emergency; Management; Communication; and as it’s happening in our public hospitals, experience of working under pressure and long hours up to 16 hours per day.

Humble about blowing her own horn, she reluctantly lists the highlights of her medical career as establishing the Department of Infectious Diseases at the tertiary level after seeing the need at the institution (by convincing the Department of Health); having learnt and managed lots of diseases in her years of experience; her ability to apply the knowledge acquired in Cuba to the South African  conditions after being exposed to two different systems of health – namely, preventative (Cuban) and curative (SA’s).

Conscientious to the core and people-driven, after arriving in the Northern Cape, purported to be the second most poorest province in the country, she established the Khà Ma Youth Programme which includes Wellness, Academic and Sports programme of the five municipalities of Namakwaland region.

Her love to help the most vulnerable and downtrodden sections of our communities, and her insatiable desire to find answers to medical problems bedeviling humanity, inspired her to accept her offer to head Brandhill Africa Foundation NPC’s medical research project, “GBS Africa”, into the Guilian Bare Syndrome (GBS), not only in South Africa, but across the continent.

In his “Dedication” page in his recently published book, “Sound and Fury: The Chronicles of Healing”, the author, Saul Molobi, sends first dedications to Dr Sibeko “through whom God gave him a second lease of life” as she did her utmost to give the best medical attention of the patient whose entire body was paralysed by the GBS. 

“For me,” he mused in one of his monthly Power FM slots, “she reminded me that South Africa’s public health system was the envy of the world when it performed the first heart transplant in the history of humankind. I knew with doctors of her calibre, this was possible. Sadly, the Public Health Service decided to let her go, but we’re blessed at the Foundation that her expertise will continue to benefit the most vulnerable sections of our communities. It’s befitting to call her a ‘people’s doctor’!”

Themba Mabena Group Chief Financial Officer: Brandhill Africa

(themba.mabena@brandhillafrica.com)

He is a Certified Business Accountant and Independent Reviewer/Auditor and the founding Managing Director: Mbhuduma Business Solutions Accountants. He has a National Diploma in Cost and Management Accounting and Bachelor of Accounting Science both from the University of South Africa (UNISA); Bachelor of Commerce Honours in Strategic Cost Activities from the University of Cape Town (UCT); and currently an MBA in Finance and Sustainability candidate at the University of Cumbria, Switzerland. He is a Registered Business Accountant Practitioner with the  Chartered Institute for Business Accountants (formerly SAIBA). He has over 20 years in Finance/Business law/Economics/Auditing and Business Strategies having served at executive management level business enterprises at various and also as an Assistant Director in various  South African government departments. His skills and competencies could be tabulated as follows:

1. Expect knowledge and understanding on International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and the Accounting Legal Framework.
2. Competent in arithmetic’s and numeracy converting financial data into statements and provide narrations of every numerate evaluations.
3. Have good computer skills in various transversal systems, the QuickBooks, the SAGE One Pastel, he BAS system, including Microsoft packages used for presentations and information organization.
4. Strong leadership skills as he has acted in senior positions in government including acting as a CEO of a physical rehabilitation hospital for over a year.
5. Ability to formulate and implement key business strategic objectives; development of the standard operating procedures (SOPs) and other internal policies, risk and financial management techniques or controls for effective corporate governance.
6. Sound knowledge of King Report III, the Treasury Regulation, PFMA, DORA, Asset and Supply Chain.
7. Skilled in financial operating systems such as SAP R3 and SAP SRM, Pastel Partner 14.1 version, BAS, and FMS together with Accounting Standards such as GAAP, GRAP.
8. Ability to do basic audit planning and tests of controls and computing Audit opinion
9. Good project management skills including an ability to work in a project teams or commissions.
10. Strong interpersonal skills and superior mastery of team dynamics.

The Brandhill Africa™ group is privileged to have a professional of his calibre joining us as a Group CFO since in recent years, investment facilitation has become a hot topic in the world of finance. With the rapid advancement of technology and the globalisation of the economy, new investment opportunities are emerging at an unprecedented rate. As a result, companies are constantly seeking new ways to facilitate investment and stay ahead of the curve.

As a GCFO, the role in investment facilitation is critical. He will play a key role in identifying investment opportunities, evaluating risks and potential returns, and making strategic decisions that can impact the company’s and our clients’ financial future.

One of the new trends in investment facilitation is the use of technology. Companies are increasingly using digital platforms to streamline the investment process, from initial due diligence to ongoing portfolio management. These platforms offer real-time data analytics, customisable dashboards, and automated reporting, allowing CFOs to make informed decisions quickly and efficiently.

Another trend is the growing importance of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) considerations in investment decisions. Investors are increasingly looking to invest in companies that prioritise sustainability and corporate responsibility, and CFOs play a crucial role in ensuring that these considerations are integrated into the investment process.

Furthermore, there is a rise in alternative investments such as private equity, venture capital, and real estate which the clients of Brandhill Africa™ are targeting to attract. These investments often require specialised knowledge and expertise, and CFOs need to have a deep understanding of the risks and rewards of these investments to make informed decisions.

Finally, there is a growing trend towards collaboration between companies, investors and other stakeholders in the investment process. CFOs are increasingly working with external partners, including investment banks, advisory firms, and other financial institutions, to identify new investment opportunities and manage risk.

Investment facilitation is a rapidly evolving field that presents both opportunities and challenges for CFOs and we as Brandhill Africa™ are confident that Themba will prevail over all the challenges that the emerging trends will pose. He truly understands that to stay ahead of the curve, CFOs need to be adaptable, tech-savvy, and have a deep understanding of the investment landscape. By embracing new trends and leveraging technology and partnerships, he will play a critical role in driving growth and success for our group of  companies and our clients.

Another important trend in investment facilitation is the rise of impact investing. This approach involves investing in companies and projects that have a positive impact on society or the environment, while still generating financial returns. Impact investing has become increasingly popular among investors who are looking to align their investments with their values and beliefs, and CFOs are playing a key role in identifying and evaluating these types of opportunities.

Moreover, the ongoing pandemic has accelerated the adoption of digital solutions and remote work, and this has had a profound impact on investment facilitation. With many employees working from home, virtual meetings, webinars, and online conferences have become the norm, and CFOs have had to adapt to this new way of doing business. They must ensure that the investment process remains efficient and effective, despite the challenges posed by remote work.

In contemporary times, geopolitical tensions and regulatory changes have created a more uncertain investment environment in some parts of the world. Themba is aware aware of these risks and is more than ready to develop strategies to mitigate them. He will be supported by other executives in the company who have extensive experience in international relations and diplomacy.

In conclusion, investment facilitation is a complex and rapidly evolving field that requires CFOs to be flexible, adaptable, and knowledgeable about the latest trends and technologies. Themba is a full embodiment of these competencies. By staying up-to-date with the latest developments, collaborating with external partners, and leveraging digital solutions, he will indeed help us and our clients to navigate the investment landscape and achieve our operational and financial goals.

Ofentse Nthite

Executive: Project Administration and Management – Brandhill Africa Institute (Pty) Ltd and Director of Brandhill Africa Investment Holdings (Pty) Ltd 

(ofentse.nthite@brandhillafrica.com)

An ambitious  hail and a go-getter, she graduated from the University of the North West in BA Political Science and International Relations in 2015. One and a half year later she received a bursary to study a 6-month course in “Thought Leadership for Africa’s Renewal” with the Thabo Mbeki African Leadership Institute (TMALI), based at the University of South Africa (UNISA). She’s very passionate about development of servant leadership issues in Africa and TMALI enriched the passion with the requisite knowledge and skills.

In 2019, she spent the whole year in South Korea as an English language teacher and this gave her practical experience to the science of international relations that she studied at the university.

Amidst her academic journey, she got bitten by the entrepreneurship bug which led to the birth of Ofentse Creations – her pride and joy. She uses this as a platform to expose her artistic creativity through her post-modernist African authentic designs rapped in African Print. She’s also a poet.

Believing in the principle of life-long learning, she continues to attend workshops and seminars to become a thought leader on international relations who will motivate various stakeholders on pan-Africanist epistemologies which should put Africa at the core of everyday’s conversations: about the importance of being an African who embraces all that has to do with Africa, her dark past, her presence and her bright future. This she believes she will achieve since she’s a young businesswoman, teacher and an aspiring academic whose perspectives are grounded on the African Renaissance.

Kentridge Mathabathe

Executive – New Business Development: Brandhill Africa Media Holdings (Pty) Ltd

(kentridge.mathabathe@brandhillafrica.com)

He’s an award winning Photojournalist having spent three decades in the media industry both as a journalist and Photographer.

He’s currently preparing a photo exhibition about “Mamelodi Massacre” to coincide with the township’s annual commemoration of the mass killing of residents by apartheid cops during a rent protest that occurred in 1985. These memorable pictures he took while still a freelance photojournalist then.

In 2009 he joined Gauteng’s Department of Roads and Transport as spokesperson for both political and administration offices at Director Level communicating most World Cup 2010 matters in liaison with the Premier’s Office.

At the end of the greatest soccer spectacular in South Africa, he was appointed Acting Chief Director: Communication and Liaison managing both internal and external communications for the Department.

He was also tasked to run stakeholder Management and Media and messaging both important components of the Department.

Months afterwards he was given a chance to manage and oversee Stakeholder Management as Director before the MEC appointed him to the Gauteng Provincial Regulatory Entity, otherwise known as GPRE, an entity that regulates public transport in Gauteng and it is mandated to issue Operating Licenses to Public Transport in the Province.

He stayed for five years from 2013 until 2018 managing the Tshwane offices and representing the entity at various stakeholder engagements including the taxi industry, chairing most section 59 of National Transport Act in Tshwane and at times Joburg head offices. As part their mandate, members would also attend Appeals Tribunals, Municipalities meetings related to transport matters and would also meet with National Public Transport and Regulator (NPTR) for any amendments or update.

At the end of 2016 he was moved to gFleet, a trading entity falling under Gauteng Roads and Transport as Director VIP and Pool overseeing the overall function of the unit and had almost 50 colleagues reporting to my office.

He was liaising with all client government departments to harness the business relationship at hand with VIP and pool cars in return having them servicing their contract with monetary value.

Also wrote foreword for Annual Report.

His early years in the field as a photojournalist were spent at both The Open School and Afrapix (a collective of anti-apartheid photographers) where he learned the basics of journalism and photography including black and white darkroom work.

He has worked for Pretoria News for almost ten years and before that The New Nation newspaper under the late Zwelakhe Sisulu for six years before it folded due to the unbanning of political organizations and liberalisation of South African politics.

He had a short stint of three years at the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) as part of the product development team engaged and documenting izmbizo and other stakeholder engagements for President Thabo Mbeki.

On the 32nd anniversary of the release of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, The Star requested an article from him that looked back with nostalgic as events unfolded then. Since he had covered the event for the New Nation which he had worked under during that period. His story was subsequently used very well by most of the publications that falls under their Independent Media group.

In the same breath being the first newsman to land at Boipatong on that fateful day when marauding Inkatha backed by the apartheid security police attacked residents, The Star newspaper once more asked that he wrote a piece that looked and chronicled the story from an eyewitness point of view. He did that and it was shared by most of their publications.

What is important here is that his byline included the fact that he was at the time employed at Gauteng Roads and Transport which also gave his employer a free mileage.

He a veteran of community uprisings. He was a member of the Moutse Youth Congress and was amongst the many activists who organised and mobilised youths and community at large against Moutse’s incorporation into the then Kwa-Ndebele bantustan.

He also belonged to ANC MK Nchabeleng Underground Unit and worked under Isaac Kokane Ditshego.

At the New Nation newspaper where he worked for almost five years under the late founding Editor Zwelakhe Sisulu, he was elected by the branch as the chairman of the Association of Democratic Journalists (ADJ) and subsequently qualifying as an executive member of the national body that was affiliated to the Mass Democratic Movement (MDM).

He was also member of the Mamelodi Youth Congress and participated in the organization’s various events that rejected and denounced the apartheid government’s legitimacy. He was also a liaison person for the Pretoria Cultural Forum, an ad hoc structure formed by activists organising music festival honouring the release of our leadership from Robben Island.

Kentridge possesses a BA Degree, majoring in Political Science and Communication from the University of South Africa (UNISA), National Diploma in Journalism from Birnam Business College and a National Certificate in Journalism from the University of Pretoria.

He won the “National Photo-Journalist of the Year Award” in 2001 under the auspices of National Press Club of Pretoria while employed by Pretoria News.

Mpho Molobi

Group Public Relations Manager: Brandhill Africa™

(mpho.molobi@brandhillafrica.com)

Equipped with a National Diploma in Public Relations from the University of South Africa (UNISA), he was one of the township destination marketing pioneers in the early 1990s who launched Soweto into a go-to tourism mecca of Johannesburg when he sold anti-apartheid music and film videos outside the Hector Pietersen Memorial Centre to tourists who came to the Centre and the Mandela and Tutu households long before the world famous Vilakazi Street became what it is today. At the time, he was working for Maitisong Concepts – a company that specialised in multidisciplinary cultural products.

The world of marketing, communications and PR lost him when he went to join the finance department of Airports Company South Africa (ACSA).

Now we say PR’s prodigal son has returned to his first love when he joined the Brandhill Africa™ as Group Public Relations Manager responsible for building the brand as a conscientious corporate citizen among all its publics.

Makatisha Motsepe (Mphulwane) 

Associate Editor: Business – Brandhill Africa Media Holdings (Pty) Ltd  (makatisha.motsepe@brandhillafrica.com)

Makatisha Reeva Motsepe (Mphulwane) has acquired a BA in Communications degree from University of Limpopo; Brand Building Postgraduate Qualification from IIE Vega School; Diploma in Culinary Arts which makes her a qualified Chef; and currently she’s an MBA candidate at Henley Business School.  She has worked in government and private sector in the Strategic Communications, Marketing & PR field respectively.

Makatisha is a former student leader from University of Limpopo where she championed the portfolio of Publicity, Communications, Projects and Entertainment. Her love for the Communication and Marketing sector, landed her a job immediately after graduating at University of Limpopo where she was part of the Marketing & Communications team that promoted and brand positioned the academic institution nationally and internationally.

Also à renowned journalist who wrote articles for the University’s official publication. She was part of the team that rebranded and implemented new innovative technologies to redesign the University’s website during 2014. Makatisha then progressed to work at a state agency of Gauteng Department of Economic Development called Gauteng Enterprise Propeller. She assumed her role as a Project Manager championing special projects from the Office of the MEC, where she constantly had to engage and mobilise with different communities where service delivery was imminent. It is then where she developed passion to serve people on the ground and understood the importance of conducting market research in order to know how to implement solutions where needed.

She’s currently an Associate Editor: Business at Jambo Africa Online which is published by Brandhill Africa Media Holdings (Pty) Ltd and a Brand Strategist at Brandhill Africa (Pty) Ltd. She has previously freelanced as a Travel Editor for Jambo Africa Online before her appointment as an Associate Editor: Business.

Sibabalwa Simba Mdena

Manager – Multimedia Productions: Brandhill Africa™

(simba.mdena@brandhillafrica.com)

Simba studied at the University of the Witwaterstrand Johannesburg from2003 to 2004 pursuing an Advanced Certificate in Broadcasting and Television. The course modules included Single camera operation and sound recording; Multi-camera studio work; Video editing techniques; Audio visual storytelling; and Camera reportage techniques. 

In 2005 he upped his ante by acquiring the mainstay of digital media, a Certificate in 3D Animation whose modules included Digital Animation; Professional Practice in Digital Arts: Animation PLUS; Critical Debates in Digital Arts PLUS; Use of Softimage XSI; Adobe Photoshop; Production Management; and attended various animation seminars, life-drawing classes and workshops.

Armed with these colourful qualification, he invaded the cut-throat industry by first joining the production team of “Backstage”, a local youth soapie that was flighted on e-TV, as a lighting intern with duties that included checking and swinging the lights for the different sets.

After completing his one-year internship at e-TV, he joined the Movie Camera Company (MCC), to expand his expertise in maintaining 

Cameras and Equipment hired out to film and television production companies; he received further internship at The Refinery, a top post-production company in S.A, learning about the patch bay – patching different materials to the editors.

Armed with experience he had garnered from three-year internships, he returned to his alma mater, Wits University, when he was employed as a Junior 3D Animator with duties that included Rigging, Animating, and Texturing. He left the institution at the end of the final honors class.

He then joined Bafowethu Productions as a 3D Ainmator, Cameraman and Editor applying the all-round technical expertise he had amassed multitasking by Animating local 3D kids series called ZAKA for SABC 2 which aired on Saturdays; serving as Cameraman for live daily kids show called W.O.W (World of Winners) which was flighted from Monday to Thursdays on SABC 2; and also being an Offline editor for W.O.W and Zaka.

He then moved on in 2007 to join Virtual Scape as a 3D artist specializing in 3D Architectural Design and Visualizations, engineering and graphic design.

The highlight of his career was at the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) in 2008 as a Video Editor and Cameraman profiling the Minister, Deputy Ministers of DIRCO and some occasions the President of South Africa as they carried out their duties locally and abroad driving the Foreign Policy of South Africa – including incoming and outgoing state visits. 

This where he worked with Saul Molobi who was then a Chief Director: Public Diplomacy at DIRCO. The outcome included DIRCO documentaries; the DIRCO in-house training videos for Diplomatic Training; Inserts (some of which we distributed through news channels of broadcasters such as the SABC and eTV); footage for short documentaries; and the DIRCO YouTube.

Escaping the creative constraints of the public service, the versatile multimedia expert left DIRCO in 2016 to go independent. Brandhill Africa™ is privileged to attract such talent in its ranks.  

Selemogo Maleho

Group Creative Director: Brandhill Africa™

(selemogo.maleho@brandhillafrica.com)

This founder of the Selemogo Graphics & Design Studio which is a nationally-renowned, 100% black-owned graphic design studio, has vast experience in the branding field. He, in collaboration with Saul Molobi and Andile Msindwana, reconfigured and re-engineered the brand of Limpopo into “the heartland of southern Africa” from “Africa’s garden of Eden”. 

Furthermore, he and Saul collaborated with Ziyaphenduka Marketing and Events, in engineering the Greater Tubatse Municipality (the GTM) into “the first democratic platinum city”; and he has also designed post-1994 registration plates for Gauteng (GP), Limpopo (N), North West (NW), Mpumalanga (MP), Eastern Cape (EC), Free State (FS) and the Northern Cape (NC).

Selemogo has also provided publishing services to the private sector companies (Heinemann Publishers; Tianshi), organized labour (COSATU and some of its affiliates) and civil society organizations (the then SASPU National and Learn & Teach Publications). He has illustrated the first isiZulu epic, “Madiba!”, written by the foremost poet Sabelo Zulu, celebrating the life and times of Nelson Mandela. 

Some of his notable book illustrations include a controversial article on the origin of HIV/Aids by one of the most talented ANC researchers, “Comrade Mzala“.

He founded the Gauteng-based community newspaper, e- Gauteng Express, that carried the dti’s MyBusiness monthly newspaper as an insert.

After relocating to Limpopo, he provided graphic design services to almost all the community newspapers and magazines based in Polokwane, including Tshepo Molobi’s The Capricorn News, The Waterberg News; and such other publications as The Northern Zone News and The Sedibeng.

A visual artist, who has creativity having been engraved in his genetic makeup by the gods and God, has gained fame at an early age when he won a national art competition hosted by the Sowetan newspaper – and the whole country woke up to an edition carrying a reproduction of a soulful piece of art and a photo of young winner struggling to carry his prize, bicycle, to his shoulders as the photographer directed.

His inspiration came from such artistic greats as Thamsanqa “Thami” Mnyele (an exiled ANC guerilla artist gunned down by the apartheid regime in Botswana in 1983).

Elias Mashilo

Manager – Waterberg District, Limpopo: Brandhill Africa Foundation NPC

(elias.mashilo@brandhillafrica.com)

Brandhill Africa Foundation NPC is privileged to be joined by Overseer Elias Mashilo, a Regional Overseer at the Bethesda Assemblies Church of God, who has volunteered to serve as our Manager: Waterberg District. Drawing on his current strength as a religious leader providing pastoral services to our communities, he will provide counselling services to persons with disabilities; families of persons with disabilities; and most importantly, protect persons with disabilities from suffering potential emotional harm from unscrupulous maverick religious leaders who will give false hope to people with disabilities. 

His message is simple: “To be disabled isn’t a curse from God; similarly, bearing a child with disabilities isn’t a punishment from God. And indeed, having a disability doesn’t mean you’re a child of a lesser God!” So our pastor will ensure persons with disabilities are affirmed and fully integrated into our communities.

This father of three boys, Moja, Titus and Abel, who is married to Esther, have a personal experience of being disabled as a stroke survivor. Here’s his story in his own words:

“My imbalance started in 1988 after I suddenly collapsed and fainted. On regaining my consciousness, I was unable to speak coherently – this carried on for two and a half month. Although I recovered, I suffered another bout of stroke in 2014 which paralysed the entire left part of my body.  Although I sought medical attention, it was difficult to become my previous self.

“I have been a member of the Christian community from my early childhood.  I moved up the ranks being entrusted with various leadership roles within my church as a local preacher, evangelist, Pastor, Senior Pastor and now as an Overseer. I am presently occupying two roles – namely, as a Regional Overseer and the Public Relations Officer & Chief Communications Officer of the Bethesda Assemblies Church of God.  

“Apart from Matric, I am holding a number of qualifications in Human Resources Management and Labour Relations from the Institute of Qualified Bookkeepers (ICB) and an ICT Technical Support Diploma specializing with A+; N+ and Security Support.

“My ICT expertise afforded me to join, as a manager, Connect Africa Services from 2005 until 2010 – the company’s mandate was to bridge the digital divide between urban and rural communities. This role won me favour from the Universal Service and Access Agency. I also served as an Executive Officer for the Motse/Lapalala Partnership years thereafter.

“Through God’s abundant mercies, I have served as an Executive Committee Member of the South African Council of Churches for the Limpopo Province.

“My passion to serve my communities has also inspired me to participate in different sporting codes as a strategy to divert the youth from the streets so that they could stay away from wayward behaviour. I became a referee and coach for unisex football teams to propagate the message of gender parity.

“I strongly believe in community upliftment and development as a one-time trade unionist and that’s why I mobilised our Waterberg District communities to ready themselves to benefit through the Medupi Partnership Agreement when construction of the power plant began.”

At the Brandhill Africa Foundation NPC, words aren’t enough to express how grateful we are to receiving such immense selfless support from so many distinguished people willing to serve our communities. God bless you all abundantly.

Masechaba Botle Mabula

Group Administrative Consultant: Brandhill Africa Foundation NPC

(botle.mabula@brandhillafrica.com)

Masechaba Botle Mabula is a living proof that though work experience is a necessary competence to acquire, it is not absolutely the-be-all-and-the-end-all of ensuring a potential employee’s capacity for competence and desire to deliver. Coming fresh out of university she has brought a breathe of fresh ideas and approaches into how the human capital development and management functions of the Brandhill Africa™ group of companies could be undertaken. Armed with a Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Commerce (Hons) and now pursuing a Master of Commerce in Human Resources at the University of Limpopo, the 23-year old has brought her youthful chutzpah and diligence in critiquing our human resource processes, procedures and overall systems in how we could further refine our strategies and professionalise our operations. Complemented by our practical experience, we are confident that with her innovative support we will be able to turn things around.

Our confidence in her has been strengthened by our realisation that she has solidified the youthful experiences she garnered from her extra-curricular activities at the university campus – including cultural/religious and sporting activities – into a formidable basis on which her academic excellence and nascent work experience could be solidified into a professional experience.

Our desire to give her this opportunity is also partly as our positive response to President Ramaphosa’s call for the youth of country to be affirmed by the corporate sector by giving them the opportunity to enter the world of work – through the Youth Employment Service he has made pronouncements on.

Our confidence remains resolute that our progressive and dynamic work experience will indeed mould her into a model professional who will contribute greatly to the economic successes of our country. We have committed to supporting her even next year when she will be pursuing her post-graduate studies in Human Resources.

Carol Khoza – Group Chief Operations Officer: Brandhill Africa™

(carol.khoza@brandhillafrica.com)

She’s a 26-year old young lady from Secunda in Mpumalanga. She’s a proud paraplegic. She’s now a proud mom to a most adorable baby boy, Amukelo Leano. 

She’s been disabled for over4 years after being involved in a car accident on 24 September 2016. Her spinal chord was completely broken. She was in the car with her boyfriend – who later dumped her after her life changed within a blink of an eye. “I guess he lost interest in our relationship since I was no longer able-bodied,” she said. “He was ashamed to be seen with me wheelchair-bound, and didn’t see going into the future with a person with a disability.” 

“But I have since learnt to forgive him since I know our world is inhabited by all sorts of people: there are people who will support you through difficult times while there are others who will desert you. 

“But the most important thing, I’ve learned from my experience is to never ever allow those that have given up on you to lead you into despair. 

“Things became difficult for me after I became disabled. I lost my job, career, my mobility and lost someone I thought was the love of my life. But I swore then that I could never lose myself as I was able to pick myself up. It didn’t matter how many times or how hard I had fallen, I was determined to pick up the pieces and move on, appreciate every single breath that i take, appreciate the second chance of life God had given me, appreciate the love, care and support I get from family and friends.

I managed to do some self-introspection, feed my mind with positive and constructive things that would build not break my character. 

I had to make peace with the situation I was in, the situation which was beyond my power to reverse. I decided not to dwell on the things that I couldn’t change but to change the most powerful tool at my disposal: my mindset.”

She has a Bachelor of Commerce Accounting degree.

“Although I was excited about my pregnancy, I had health challenges a bit. I often suffered overreactive bladder and the urinary tract infections. 

“But now I thank you God for giving me hope for a better tomorrow by blessing me with an Angel: my purpose to live for. I am willing to get off the ground and dust myself off and do what’s best for my child.

“I am planning to register an NPO for which I’ve chosen the name, Golden Scars Foundation. It will be a platform to engage and help people with disabilities as well as the community as a whole see life from a different positive perspective, be doing motivational talks to educate the young and old know to understand issues affecting people with disabilities and their families better than their current misperceptions; help provide learners and students (abled and disabled) from impoverished families with school uniform, food hampers; conduct personal skills development; identify job opportunities, and conducting work readiness programmes. I will also develop support peer group to give the members the members an opportunity to be independent again – this service will include by offering them the opportunity to get driver’s licenses.

“Besides my downfalls and discouragement, I still don’t want people to only see the wheelchair but to see the person I am cause my disability doesn’t define me. I recently developed an interest in beauty peagants and modelling. I’m glad to say I was one of the Top finalist of TopModelSoutAfrica in the category Model of diversity, as well as a contestant in Mr and Miss Divine. I started this journey to break the stereotype that people with disabilities are not capable of doing anything on their own. 

“I want to be a role model to our generation and inspire the next generation to know and appreciate their worth, know they are loved and appreciated, motivate and inspire them to get out of their comfort zones as happiness begins right after exiting the comfort zone; build and boost their self-confidence and self-esteem so that they could adopt a positive attitude and embrace rich mindset; chase their dreams and never ever let their disability stand on their way to success and reaching their goals; encourage our people to make themselves a priority all the time and never be discouraged by what people will say about them because after all you won’t be loved by everyone like money!”

Mangi Motloli: Group Executive – Human Capital, Brandhill Africa™

(mangi.motloli@brandhillafrica.com)

She was born in the small town called Mount Fletcher in Eastern Cape. Grew up there till the age of ten.

“When I was about 10 years I fell sick, my feet were getting swollen. My parents then took me to a surgeon who transferred me to the Umtata general hospital where I was admitted but my parents were not allowed to come with to the hospital.

“I was there for a while and while I was admitted I was operated three times and my parents never signed for any of those operations and no one did.”

The first operation was on my spine.

The second operation was on my ribs going through my breast.

And the third one was done just below the second one. “To this date I’m not sure why the three operations were done especially were they were done because I never had problems with my back or ribs and breast as only my feet were painful and swollen.

“After the three operations I could not walk again and I was discharged from the hospital. I attended physiotherapy at the general hospital in Mount Fletcher in the Eastern Cape and could manage to walk assisted by crutches. I have always had back pains and my mother would take me to the government hospital where they would give me painkillers and no tests were ever done. I have been living with these pains since then.

“My parents tried to find out why the operations were done but unfortunately they never got an answer from the doctor and after that they never followed it up but focusing on me to get better.

“The pains got worse as of 2016 and in 2018 December I went to Midrand medical centre and the general practitioner referred me to the Neurologist as the pain was persistently excruciating. My Neurologist then admitted me to do further tests and discovered that the back operation has the abnormal nerve as the result of the operation did years ago, thus causing the pain on my right leg.

“The Neurologist advised the only way was to operate to make the pain lighter but it was too risky as he was supposed to get the nerve cut/operated on on the same operation – the risk he was not prepared to take. The news broke me apart as I never thought something which was done so my years back would still make me so sick and worsen my disability.

“I remember going home for the first time after being hospitalized for six months, my world was so dark and confused. I thought it would be the end of me, not knowing where and how I was going to survive with a disability. I had to find my inner strength for my survival.

“I attended primary school in Umtata and my high school in Cape Town’s Eros School where I matriculated. 

“Due to post-matric study and work commitments I relocated to Johannesburg. I always had passion for radio, particularly radio presenting, so I registered at the Boston Media College, but never completed because of financial problems. I had to find a job to support myself and family. So I ended up working for the insurance company as a Claims service consultant.

“I am grateful for my vulnerabilities/disability for in them I have found my strength and most impotently my voice. I cannot imagine any other life besides the one I have, I have become independent, fearless and discover my many abilities that I could not have discovered and appreciate life more.”