THE PEOPLE OF THE SAWID TRUST
The Board of Trustees of SAWID was initially known as the Esigodlweni Trust, and later
the Isigodlo Trust. The name of the Isigodlo Trust was formally changed by a resolution of
the Board of Trustees on the 22nd of March 2011 to the SAWID Trust.
SAWID TRUSTEES
Ms Thoko Mpumlwana (Chairperson)
Ms Thoko Mpumlwana is a gender and social justice activist, and has been Chairperson and member of various Boards. She is a co-founding member of the Black Consciousness Movement (BCM) alongside Steve Biko, and was involved in political activism and promotion of the BCM during the 1970s.
She was until, a few years ago, the Deputy Chairperson of the Commission for Gender Equality.
Ms Mpho Letlape (Deputy Chair)
Ms Mpho Letlape began her formal career as a systems engineer in the early eighties, moving on to become an executive of various corporate entities. She is currently the Interim HR Executive of South African Airways.
She is also Chairman and Founder of Lethushane Properties, a non-executive board member at Transnet, and also chairs the Standard Band Tutuwa Community Foundation.
Ms Jody Lee Fredericks
Ms Jody Lee Fredericks is a human rights lawyer who uses strategic litigation to advance justice through landmark cases and transformative advocacy.
Dr Criselda Kananda
Dr Criselda Kananda is a mother, Doctor of Philosophy Honoris Causa, a broadcaster, former contributing Editor to real Magazine and City Press, a Business Woman, founder of Positive Talk Services, Corporate Executive, Inspirational Speaker, Social Activist, Author and on the Leadership Council as Member for AfricaReach International
Rev Bafana Khumalo
Rev Bafana Khumalo is a pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church, and co-executive director and co-founder of Sonke Gender Justice.
He is a former Commissioner of the CGE, and National Men’s sector of SANAC, currently on the Board of the GBVF Fund and on the Higher Education Technical task team on GBVF.
Dr Sithembile Mbete
Dr Sithembile Mbete is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Political Sciences at the University of Pretoria, where she teaches international relations and South African politics. She is also an Associate Fellow of the Centre for Governance Innovation.
She is also a visiting researcher at the African Leadership Centre at King’s College London.
Amb Thenjiwe Mtintso
Amb Thenjiwe Mtintso a Gender activist, was the first chair of the Commission for Gender Equality, and a former MP.
She is the former South African Ambassador to Cuba, Italy, Romania, Malawi, Spain and is currently High Commissioner to the Republic of Namibia.
Ms Nontobeko Ndhlazi (Volunteer Treasurer)
Ms Nontobeko Sanelisiwe Ndhlazi occupies the position of Group Chief Financial Officer of Women Investment Portfolio Holdings Ltd. and Chief Financial Officer of Wipcapital Pty Ltd. (a subsidiary of Women Investment Portfolio Holdings Ltd.).
She is also Member of The Businesswomen’s Association and on the board of 5 other companies.
Ms Nonkqubela Noloyiso Mayatula
Ms Nonkqubela Noloyiso Mayatula is the Director of Lafarge, Wildlife Ranching SA, Miarestate.
She is currently a Flexid Stiftelsen Advisor and Former Director of CEF, SFF, Tawana, and Coal of Africa. She began her career at Accenture.
Ms Lesley Donna Williams
Ms Lesley Donna Williams is Chief Executive Officer at Tshimologong Precinct. She is a Dialogue and Process Facilitator, Inclusive Innovation Practitioner, TEDx Speaker and founder of Lesley Donna Williams Consulting.
In 2010 she launched the first Impact Hub in Africa in Johannesburg – now one of over 100 around the world.
PROVINCIAL COORDINATORS
Eastern Cape: Yoliswa Memela
Yoliswa Memela is a Human Resources practitioner and a union leader. She is involved in agriculture and farming and she is the EC SAWID Coordinator.
Free State: Francina Sehlabaka
Ms Francinah Sehlabaka is a farmer residing in Bloemfontein, and she is the Free State Provincial Coordinator.
She owns five hectares of land on which she is producing vegetables. She is also in the business of manufacturing handwoven mohair tapestries and floor rugs while working closely with women in local communities.
Gauteng: Ndivhuho Sekoba
Ms Ndivhuho Sekoba is a gender activist, founder of the Maintenance Action Group, Founder and Director of Braamfisher Hope Centre, the Regional chair of the ANCWL in Johannesburg, the National General Secretary of the South NGO Coalition, and is a Commissioner of the African Peer Review Mechanism in South Africa, amongst various other positions she holds.
She serves as provincial coordinator of SAWID in Gauteng.
KwaZulu-Natal: Nokuthula Makhanya – Sibiya
Ms Nokuthula Makhanya – Sibiya is an activist leader and a Public Management graduate from Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT). She is the current KZN Provincial Coordinator for SAWID.
She is a human rights activist and an advocate for the voiceless, and a leader who has a vast experience in government, as she has served as the EThekwini Municipality as a Metro Councillor for 10 years.
Limpopo: Sinah Masemola
Ms Sinah Tuludi Masemola is a community chaplain who advocates for, and builds community activism and development through dialogue. She serves as the Limpopo Provincial Coordinator.
Mpumalanga: Phumaphi Irene Thwala
Phumaphi Irene Thwala is the Coordinator of SAWID in Mpumalanga, and aims to empower women and prioritize the women’s agenda, helping them to connect to relevant government departments and the private sector.
North West: Bosa Ledwaba (Rustenburg)
Ms Bosa Ledwaba is a community builder, a peace maker, a humanitarian, a gender activist, a life coach, a mother, a cancer survivor and a prayer warrior. She leads the team in Rustenburg.
North West: Matlhodi Jebetle (Mafikeng)
Ms Matlhodi Margaret Jebetle from North West province is a pastor and community builder, who advocates for peace and development in her community. She leads the team in Mafikeng.
Northern Cape: Elizabeth (Mykie) Dipico
Elizabeth K Dipico, popularly known as Mykie, is a teacher by profession, and a gender activist who deals with empowerment of women and gender relations. She is a community leader and has a passion for monitoring and evalution.
Western Cape: Caroline Peters
Caroline Peters is an African feminist and human rights advocate, and an award-winning activist against gender-based violence. She is the Executive Director and Founder of Callas Foundation, Coordinator of the Cape Flats Women’s Movement, Women’s Legal Centre, Human Rights Defenders Programme, and the Western Cape Provincial Coordinator for SAWID.
other Office bearers
national council observers
Ms Suraya Bibi Khan
Ms Sinah Masemola
Registration Number
IT/5200/04
Chief Operations Officer
Ms Marthe Muller-Halliday
PREVIOUS office bearers
ORIGINAL SAWID NATIONAL STEERING COMMITTEE 2003
Dr. Brigalia Bam (Chairperson)
Ms. Baby Tyawa
Ms. Gernia Van Niekerk
Ms. Mandisa Tsotsi
Ms. Bibi Suraya Khan
Dr. Vuyo Mahlati
Ms. Viwe Qegu
Interim Executive Director
Ms Madumezulu G. Silinda
THE PEOPLE OF THE ISIGODLO TRUST
Ms. Zanele Mbeki (Chairperson)
Ms. Wendy Lucas-Bull (Treasurer)
Dr. Thandi Ndlovu
Ms. Mathabo Kunene
Ms. Irene Charnley
Ms. Audrey Coleman
Dr. Khosi Khumalo
Ms. Marthe Muller (2004-2006)
2009 – 2011
Ms. Thoko Mpumlwana (Deputy Chair)
Dr. Brigalia Bam
Dr. Vuyo Mahlati
South African Women Championing Change
South African Women in Dialogue (SAWID) is an independent South African women’s
platform committed to hearing the voice of every woman and to improving the status of
women by engaging national government, the private sector, civil society, (including non-
governmental organisations, community-based organisations, faith-based organisations
and donors) in partnership to shape community, provincial and continental agendas.
Provinces.
SAWID works through 9 volunteer Provincial Coordinators and YSAWID Coordinators in every province.
Years.
SAWID is proud of its first 20 years representing and amplifying the voices of women on decision making platforms.
Attendees.
More than 20, 000 women have attended dialogues, workshops, seminars and roundtables since 2003.