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ONE DAY LEADER • 20162

CONTENTC O N T E N T

3Introduction 3

4 - 16 Information on Contestants

Zareef Minty 4

Ludwekazi Ndlazi 6

Sydney Madibo 8

Nandile Mlambo 10

Natasha Sesing 12

Thamsanqa Pooe 14

Ndumiso Hadebe 16

Sanda Ncama 17

LEADING MEANS RUNNING FAST ENOUGH TOKEEP AHEAD OF YOUR PEOPLE.

- S.M. STIRLING

ONE DAY LEADER • 2016 3

One Day Leader is a reality competition television series in which six young people showcase their leadership skills by tackling modern day South

African social, economic and political issues as a way of competing for the coveted title of One Day Leader.

One Day Leader aims to produce a leader with a combination of business and political acumen in their campaign for social change.

The One Day Leader format was developed to engage and educate young South Africans on leadership skills, investigate social, economic and political issues and their impact on the people of our country, to bring an understanding and belief of ‘Democracy’ and highlight the importance of having the right to voice an opinion and cast a well informed vote whilst also being responsible, and to foster an understanding, identification and adoption of the The Six Pillars of Leadership which are Willingness, Vision, Attitude, Influence, Action and Accountability

One Day Leader is a thought provoking series that challenges the audience to learn via a narrative of scripted challenges and debates. It challenges young people to find simple and creative solutions to today’s complicated problems.

The fluidity, entertainment and educational nature of One Day Leader is rooted in its contestants. The show tells the story of their evolution from ordinary young people into willing, influential, accountable,

thoughtful, calculating and brave visionaries, the epitome of the future youth leaders of our country.

In the beginning of the series, viewers will bear witness to their wishes and dreams, they will follow during the good and bad days as they tussle for points and learn a thing or two about themselves in the process. Along the way the going will get tough. People will be tested to their limits, personalities will clash, new and innovative solutions will be discovered, mistakes will be made, some will win whilst others wrestle with failure. In the end, there can only be one winner and five hopefuls.

Three judges form the expert panel of One Day Leader. They will educate the viewers regarding Leadership whilst using the episodic scenarios as well as development of the contestants as a basis for their teachings. The judges will question and interrogate the contestants on their views and positions as per the episodic topics. In essence they play the role of the prosecutor whose main aim is to put enough pressure on the candidates in order to allow viewers a glimpse of who our characters really are. They will keep contestants on their toes during the debates and score candidates following the debates.

The One Day Leader journey is dependant on points awarded to the contestants by both the viewers and judges. The

overall tally will be made up of the following spread of 60% of votes by Television

viewers and 40% by Judges.

I N T R O D U C T I O N


Zareef Minty

Zareef Minty is a 22-year-old, LLB graduate at the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa. Zareef is a thought leader and innovator. He became the youngest

national youth president in South African history at the tender age of just 19. He ran in the 2014 national general elections where he was 5th on the party’s parliamentary candidates list. Zareef is a motivational speaker, and speaks at schools around South Africa every fortnight. He also writes for the largest online newspaper agency in South Africa called News 24; he contributes articles based on politics, law, business and current events nationally and globally. He also writes for TeenZone which is a major teen magazine in South Africa. His articles and pieces are based on lighter topics like love, relationships and self-improvement.

Zareef made the Mail and Guardian’s Top 200 Young South Africans under 35 list in 2014 under the politics category. He

He is very involved in University leadership where he was the Treasurer of the Law Students Council, the all faculty Treasurer, the Chairperson of the Black Lawyers Association and the Chairperson of the Student Discipline Committee.

Zareef has made huge waves in the transparency of management regulations for students. He wrote a book called Empire, which created a lot of buzz in South Africa. It is about the youth and their mind set, it teaches young people tips on how to improve their mind set in such a way that they will be attracting positivity and success. Some of the chapter’s topics are Networking, Don’t take no for an answer, and Be your biggest critic. Zareef has also started his own foundation called the Zareef Minty Build a School Foundation; the foundation plans on building three schools in Limpopo by the end of 2017.

Zareef is a One Young World Ambassador for South Africa and will be representing the country in Canada later this year. Zareef was also listed in the Top 50 of GQ Best Dressed. Zareef has recently teamed up with Play Your Part as one of their ambassadors. Play Your Part is a South African movement that encourages South Africans to be active in participating in the growth of the country whether it’s through random acts of kindness or a CEO mentoring 5 startup companies. Play Your Part was created by Brand SA in partnership with Leadership 2020 and One Day Leader. Zareef has also recently registered his PR and Marketing company called Zareef Minty Consulting under a holdings company called ZRF Holdings. Zareef Minty Consulting is a South African full service PR, marketing, branding, communications and celebrity consultancy with strong roots in Africa.

Zareef strongly believes in a five, ten and a twenty-year plan where he outlines in detail a blue print of his future. Zareef plans on running for mayor in 2021 in Matlosana in the North West province. He also aspires to be a Minister of either Higher or Basic Education in South Africa. Zareef’s goal is to have impacted the lives of 100 Million people and have built fifty schools or educational institutions. Zareef won the title of SABC 1’s One Day Leader Season 4.

How did ODL impact my life? One Day Leader is a wonderful platform to unearth leaders who are extremely competent but don’t have the national platform to showcase their leadership skills. I’ve always been a fan of One Day Leader, maybe it’s because I was introduced to it on numerous occasions with the number of University of Witwatersrand students making the top 6 every year. I look at some of the leaders who were on the show prior to our


season and it amazes me at their achievements and growth post One Day Leader. From Morris to Seadimo to Ndumiso. The Thusanani Foundation which was founded by Morris is one of the most effective and efficient foundations in the country providing mentorship and bursary opportunities to students for further study. It’s wonderful to see that young talented leaders are given the national responsibility to grow our country.

My time on One Day Leader has really developed my leadership skills. I believe being on a show where you are tested against five other amazing leaders with millions of people watching your every move can assist you in not only finding the confidence in yourself that you need to become a better leader but also the ability to identify your weaknesses and take active steps to turn those weaknesses into strengths, whether it happens while on One Day Leader or after it. One Day Leader has reassured me that the youth of the country will ultimately determine the direction this country is headed. One Day Leader has also reassured me that education, entrepreneurship and mentorship, are the keys to unlock the true potential of South Africa. I am a huge advocate for education, entrepreneurship and giving national responsibility to our youth, so that they can gain the necessary experience and skills to lead this country. One Day Leader can change the mindset of our youth. One Day Leader can change the lives of our youth. Please go out and apply to be on the next season of One Day Leader.

Which leader inspires me?Sbusiso Leope, popularly known as DJ Sbu, is a media personality and businessman; he’s also a philanthropist who thrives on giving back to the youth of SA. He gives three talks a week to disadvantaged schools around SA, gives bursaries and offers mentorship to learners. He’s currently enrolled at Henley Business School for the MBA Programme. The brand, DJ Sbu, has shaped youth culture and their thinking in South Africa over the past 15 years. Despite his tough upbringing in Tembisa, he has overcome obstacles on his journey and made a name for himself using his media talents on national television and radio. Over the past decade Sbusiso has worked on national platforms exposing his brand and personality to 25 million people per week. Sbusiso first made a name for himself in the music and entertainment industry. He is the founder and chairman of SLEF, ‘The Sbusiso Leope Education Foundation’ which has given away over 500 bursaries to pupils throughout 300 schools nationwide.

He also personally mentors and supports young students who show an appetite for education. The SLEF team, led by Sbusiso visits three schools a week to motivate learners. Recently, Forbes Africa recognised Sbusiso as 1 of 13 young Africans to watch. Sunday Times named him one of the ‘Coolest Brands’ in SA. Mail & Guardian named Sbu one of 200 brilliant Young South Africans and he has also been listed as one of 100 Most Influential Africans alongside Nelson Mandela, Thabo Mbeki and Desmond Tutu. He has published a best-selling book under Leadership 2020 entitled ‘The Beginning’ with over 20 000 copies sold. His followers remain anxious for the follow up title – Billionaires Under Construction. Under Leadership 2020 the

company organises conferences, runs a leadership curriculum of short courses, and provides mentorship and coaching to the community. He is the co-founder of the first 100% black owned energy drink brand entitled MoFaya.

Leope is the host of a weekly entrepreneurship show on CNBC Africa called Kicking Doors. The show is designed to showcase Africa’s entrepreneurial talent and profile the success stories of entrepreneurs who have a proven track record, experience and stories to tell. The show also interviews female CEO’s and provides real-time coaching and teaching through its various segments. Sbusiso also supports various charity organisations and ensures that not only him, but also other celebrities in South Africa establish mechanisms, no matter how big or small, to give back to their respective communities. Some of his humanitarian efforts also include food and clothing distributions in many of our disadvantaged communities, Hospice visitations, and much more. Sbusiso Leope is an epitome of popular culture, and is described by some people as a philanthropist and a person who has a heart to give.

Why does Sibusiso inspire me?Sbu inspires me because I see him as the solution to what I call the “youth mindset problem”. In South Africa, our youth are talented and ambitious. They have the necessary abilities but the fear of failure creates a barrier within us that stops many of us from being great and reaching our full potential. Sbu creates that belief, he builds your confidence through the advice and talks he gives you but most importantly through his actions. Sbu has been my mentor for years now, I look at him as a father figure. He always gives me advice that is best for me. He is wise, intelligent and extremely hard working. The phrase he made his own “You can’t stop my go” wakes me up every morning wanting to do better and be better. I am so certain it does the same thing to millions of young people all around Africa.

What leadership qualities does Sbusiso exhibit?Sibusiso Leope is transparent, confident and innovative. Sbu is passionate and has bags of integrity. He is a problem solver. I’ve worked with him on numerous platforms from Leadership 2020 to his new DJSbuBreakfast show. He spends very little time on problems instead he looks at finding solutions to those problems almost instantly. Sbu liberates whoever he interacts with, whether it is directly or indirectly. He has this ability to get people to work harder and start working on self-improvement. Sbu is a listener, he makes time for you no matter how busy he gets. Sbu was there when I won One Day Leader, that meant the world to me. He supported me and endorsed my campaign, long before I was even in the running to win the title.. I respect him so much. He is family to me. He can treat everyone equally and he is definitely the humblest person I have ever met. He can work in a team of people and lead them. He can develop his team and pick them up with him. He is a change maker. He is phenomenal.

[You can’t STOP my GO]


Ludwekazi Ndlazi is a 24-year-old female born and bred in the Eastern Cape in Mthatha. Holding a Bachelor

of Technology in Business Management, she is the founder and director of The Training Institute of Customer Service Excellence, an institution that offers training to companies in both the public and private sectors. When she is not wearing her facilitator hat, she is a transformational speaker, MC and Poet. With a passion for changing lives, community development has become a priority for this change agent.

I recall writing my closing speech for the One Day Leader season finale; it was probably one of the most emotional moments I can remember. I am taken back to that very moment every time I attempt to put into words the impact One Day Leader has had on my life. I get flashbacks of all the frustrating yet exciting moments I’ve lived in my head where I’ve had to be the first female president, the Minister of Education, Sports and Recreation, Arts and Culture, Social Development etc. I’ve spoken on that podium under different portfolios. I’ve even gone as far as imagining myself as a victim in every scenario, all because I had to be the voice of South Africa. The social, economic and political solutions we presented affected real lives, our resolutions had to be practical. I was expected to lead on a national platform, I had to channel the reality of the magnitude of the task at hand. I became more mindful of the little to which I did not necessarily pay attention. My eyes were opened to the harsh realities of this world; that what many regard as bad on the surface, is mild when compared to the extreme conditions you find when you dig deeper.

Personally, the level of growth completely exceeded my expectations. I made a lot of discoveries about myself. I took away a myriad of life lessons which I apply in both my personal and professional life every single day. I realised also that no one can ever nullify your dream. Once upon a time being on One Day Leader was just a dream for me. All dreams are in fact valid; all it takes is working on them. I still live by my vision - to “Think Global and Act Local” - the vision of a South Africa that is not limited by jurisdiction, a country where idea generation and strategic planning horizons are broadened. I still see socio economic challenges in all various spheres rectified with all potential maximised. One Day Leader has also paved the way for my entrepreneurial ventures. The platform truly opened doors of opportunities,

even where I least expected it. I have met notable people with whom I’ve built solid relationships. The guidance, advice and encouragement we received from our mentors on One Day Leader highlighted to me the importance of feedback and constructive criticism. I am truly grateful for the network I have established. I never thought the number six would have such a significant meaning in my life but I thank God that “Leader 6” happened. With the willingness to knock on doors, to put myself out there, to serve. The willingness to ignite my light so that together we unite, embarking on a journey where young people drive change, it’s possible. It was when I uttered these words that I realised the journey had only just begun. Through One Day Leader I realised leadership is an everyday thing. I confirmed that indeed to hope is to live - it’s possible!

My Inspirational LeaderShe has been described by many as feminine, soft spoken, meek, and gentle. She has been granted a whole lot of titles. An iconic leader who has completely redefined leadership, who has proven to South Africa and the world that being all woman in leadership is possible. It is no secret that the former Public Protector, Advocate Thulisile (Thuli) Nomkhosi Madonsela has won the hearts of many during her time in office. I am certainly one of those who model themselves around this remarkable leader. Firstly, the fact that she is a pioneer alone, makes me admire the woman she is - what she is capable of. To break barriers in a patriarchal society where women have to fight long and hard for recognition in certain leadership positions is something worth celebrating. Being the third person and first ever female in South Arica to be appointed as Public Protector is a milestone. She paved the way for generations of young females to aspire to occupy leadership positions that high. I believe in transformation; I believe things are gradually changing for the better.

Secondly, we have had numerous cases of individuals who have been appointed to leadership positions with false or no qualifications. Advocate Thuli Madonsela however was an exception to this; she was qualified for the position and was appointed on merit. With her BA Law degree and later attaining her LLB, LLD Honoris Causa and past experience as legal advisor (to name a few), she made the perfect candidate for the job; proving that education still plays a pivotal role in the success of a leader. Such an admirable eminence!

I am inspired by Advocate Thuli Madonsela for she believes in a lot of things I believe in. I align my values to hers and most importantly my character almost matches hers. Wangari Maathai once said “African women in general need to know that it’s okay for them to be the way they are - to see the way they are as strength, and to be liberated from fear and from silence.” These are powerful words which I

Ludwekazi Ndlazi


believe this phenomenal woman (Thuli Madonsela) applies in everything she does - a principle which I would identify as the root of her authenticity. I have had a lot of people describe me as feminine, soft spoken, meek and gentle, amongst other things. These traits have often been perceived as hindrances or disadvantages where leadership is concerned. I have been a part of discussions and debates where male dominance ruled,

but through realising my strengths, I discovered my voice, not only as

“a female” but as a valuable contributor equally deserving to have a say - through this I have conquered.

The common misconception that people make is aligning effective leadership to noise making. I was particularly impressed by how the advocate responded to one of the questions relating to her nature during an interview she did, stating that “You don’t have to be nasty to get this job done.” One can already draw from her statement that she knows how to separate her emotions from her work.

Holding an office of high authority comes with tremendous amounts of responsibility and pressure to deliver. It goes without saying that sometimes one would be required to investigate even the least expected people regardless of their relationship. This needs someone with a great deal of honesty and integrity - we saw this when Advocate Thuli Madonsela investigated the President of the country. To be in the public eye means to endure both constructive and destructive criticism; to cope with the good and the bad that comes with the leadership title. She has held her fort and has always known better than to act out of emotions as far as addressing the public is concerned -

a trait most leaders battle with, true exercise of discipline. In attempts to bring her down, negative things were

said about her, some questioning her judgement and the quality of her work. Her principles

were probed and her life was threatened but none of it broke her down. The former Public Protector has proven to be a courageous leader on many occasions.

Her poise - she is so gracious in the way she carries herself. Her humility - nothing

is as inspiring as a humble top achiever who has multiple accolades but realises that those

achievements give her no right to exert power over other people. A transformational leader. She has led her team successfully, growing from strength to strength. Even in trying times she understood the essence of teamwork and working towards a vision, TOGETHER. Her leadership style makes one want to change for the better; seek to excel in all that they do.

To be a selfless leader means to put first the needs of the people. I was delighted to hear that Advocate Thuli Madonsela “places herself in the shoes of those she is called upon to judge” that this is how she ensures that every decision she makes is the best. It is clear that Ubuntu is still very prevalent in this lifelong journey by this magnificent leader.

Right at the peak of South Africa’s leadership crisis where hypocrisy, dishonesty and corruption have taken over, where bullying and radicalism have become trendy, just when I thought all hope of ethical leadership is gone, Advocate Thuli Madonsela is one of the few people who have resurrected my belief in true leadership, the kind that even the fallen heroes of the struggle displayed with tenacity. She stayed true to her mandate, which was to keep watch of state affairs and the country’s public administration and holding any abusers of power accountable. I admire how she does not attempt to politicise everything. She understood her purpose, her role and what was required of her. She did her job and she did it well.

Ludwekazi Ndlazi

[ You don’t have to be

nasty to get this job done. ]


SydneyMadibo

When I was presented with the opportunity to prepare this article on the morning of 11 November 2016 many thoughts were racing through my head. With just over

a week before my court appearance before the Vanderbijlpark Magistrate’s Court on my participation in #FeesMustFall protests on the North West University’s Vaal campus, my stomach had been tossing and turning for quite some time now. And just at that distinct moment on that cloudy Monday morning an important phone call came in, requesting simple little Sydney Madibo to prepare an article. That uneasy feeling of thorns poking my intestines quickly transformed into butterflies flying so effortlessly in my stomach.

Born Sydney Junior Madibo on the 10th September 1993 in Residensia, and raised in the Vanderbijlpark town that is one of the three that make up the Vaal triangle, I am the 6th of 7 children to retired teachers Mrs. Annah Tebogo Madibo and the late Mr. Seleke “Sydney” David Madibo.

I completed my high schooling at the Thuto Tiro Comprehensive School in Sebokeng and went on to do my tertiary education studies at the North West University Vaal triangle campus. During my stay there I studied towards a Bachelor of Arts in Law and later went on to study towards a Bachelor’s in Education majoring in Computer Applications Technology and Geography. Through the pursuit of a qualification I was met with the opportunity to serve on the Campus Student Representative Council, Institutional Student Representative Council and a myriad of other structures. My arrival in varsity sparked an unknown love for activism. Coming from a township school that did not have quite as many resources as the new environment many of us found ourselves in, having to adjust to not only the new study climate but the multiracial classroom settings, the alternating of lectures between Afrikaans and English, and not being supervised as to when and when not to come to class were all foreign concepts that were hard hitting.

Being a black student from a middle income family in South Africa meant that my ultimate success in varsity would be dictated by our ability or inability to pay my fees at the end or beginning of each academic year. It was almost as if we were immediately sorted into classes. Into the ‘haves and have not’s’ as my Geography teacher would put it. Arriving as a shy, reserved fellow, over the years I would juggle academics, leadership and popularity quicker than one would anticipate. And this article is descriptive of all of these journeys; each with its own characteristics; each with its own unfolds.

Studies, SRC and One Day LeaderInside the lecture hall, discussions on child labour and child wellbeing were at the centre of discussions on inclusive education or educational psychology. Pursuing a degree in education, although


it was not what I initially planned for my future, was not only an ideal I had come to fall in love with, it was also an idea of how it would look to be this short teacher in a classroom of tall learners who (ironically) look up to you. It was the possibility of feeding education to the nation that made teaching look so beautiful. The idea of a learner running home and saying; “Ma, did you know that unless you key in a function on the computer it won’t return a particular answer? Well, Mr. Madibo said so”; was such a beautiful idea. Knowing more and wanting to give that knowledge to others. It was difficult though. Trying to balance my academics with being in the SRC was challenging but I managed to keep my head above water. It was a beautiful experience, pursuing knowledge with the purpose of giving it to others.

At the same time, being on the SRC was just as thrilling. Discussing possible funding models for poor and academically deserving students who do not have the means to pay, opposing the usage of Afrikaans as a medium of instruction for some, and opposing decisions we felt were opposition to the progress of students were the order of the day. At the beginning of every academic year, we would erect a tent outside the admin building and invite students owing the university to come and gain assistance. This we got as a tradition from previous councils. Organising fresher’s parties, symposiums and a myriad of other functions constituted being in the SRC, and being the chairperson or “president” as students prefer to call it, meant that the final decision as well as ensuring the success of such initiatives rested on my and the entire SRCs shoulders. Our central focus was ensuring the registration of most, if not all, students on campus.

Shortly after a demonstration on the campus that saw a strike break out over possible fee adjustments to the 2016 academic year, a friend made me aware that One Day Leader Applications were open for season 4. Without having any specific expectations, and without even knowing that my background in radio, occasional speeches in schools and community projects would come in handy towards my application, I applied, and before I knew it we were sitting as the final top 20 contestants in Randburg where we had to debate our way into the top 6. I was coming from a council meeting in Sandton and hadn’t slept a wink thinking about selections for the top 6. Finally, the day and Thami Pooe was a familiar face (we used to debate against each other during our schooling years) were among the chosen 20. In no time an announcement came in that we were the top 6 contestants for One Day Leader Season 4. If I were to describe the feeling I had, we would have to prepare for an entirely different article.

Coming from a background of being a student, a student leader and activist; and now sitting with five brilliant minds that were just as obsessed with the development of South Africa, was truly a breath-taking experience. Over the three months we spent on One Day Leader, I personally came to learn how working together as a team, on and off camera, truly made the dream of a developed South Africa so real. For me personally, being part of One Day Leader meant that I could contribute to the development of solutions to the socio-economic ills that

plague our society. Other young people could, through us, see how it was possible to be that normal person walking about at the taxi rank on their way to campus, and possess so much interest for the world around. It meant, far more than anything, that we were not crazy for thinking we could change the world. Every Tuesday we would stand before thousands and thousands of South Africans of different colours and creed and argue why our solutions for a developed South Africa were the ideal solutions. Far more than just being debaters competing for a title, we could actually see ourselves as game changers. Young as we are.

One Day Leader to me is not just a competition. It is a solution to South Africa’s problems. It is a legacy of its time waiting to be explored by other nations. A legacy of young people holding the key to a developed South Africa and Africa. It is a cloth cut differently from the rest and it has granted me the opportunity to continue giving opinions on youth related matters on SAFm, Power FM and a myriad of other platforms. Had it not been for my being exposed to One Day Leader, I do not think I would have gotten an opportunity to be considered as solution orientated to our problems as a country as I am now. Through the competition I was truly inspired to look up to a number of great leaders in our country and continent. Both fallen and current. And one such leader we constantly heard of in struggle songs during my SASCO days is former ANC President, the late Oliver Reginald Tambo. The late president is an inspiration because of how he, very calmly and constructively, detailed South Africa’s transition from its dark past to what it is now; and led the African National Congress selflessly, even outside the borders of the country in exile. The manner in which he, very fearlessly and with great articulacy, led the African National Congress, even under its ban during the brutal reign of the apartheid government, is exemplary of the kind of leadership our country requires today as well as the ruling party. A kind of leadership that does not, under any circumstances, jeopardise the liberation of its people, compromise the safety and security of this hard earned liberation and never sells out the agenda of allowing a democracy that is for the people, by the people. President Tambo was a leader of that time, for these challenges.

In closing my article let me give thanks to Mountaintop Productions, SABC Education, the National Youth Development Agency, and Contestants from Season 4 and everyone who wished us well during our journey. This was one journey that has and will continue to be life changing for young people all over the country. Contesting and observing.

In the words of Former President Tambo, allow me to close off the article with the following quote:

“The fight for freedom must go on until it is won. Until our country is free and happy and peaceful as part of the community of man, we cannot rest.” – OR Tambo


Nandile Mlambo, born and raised in Durban, is one of SABC Education’s youth One Day Leader top six finalists and winner of the BBI UK (Basic Business

Initiative) 2013 Runner up Young Entrepreneur Award.

Nandile obtained her junior degree in a BA Motion Picture from AFDA and her BA Honours in Brand Leadership from the Vega School of Brand Communications. Her qualifications have assisted her in accomplishing her vision to become a social entrepreneur, which is to ‘marry’ her expertise in television production and use the medium of brand building to drive social change.

In 2013, during the course of her honours year at Vega, she wrote a thesis on ‘The Importance of Personal Branding within the Graduate Sector’, to find out the causality for the high youth unemployment rate in South Africa. Her research revealed the five most common mistakes young job seekers make when going to interviews. She then turned her thesis paper into a business plan and won an award from the BBI UK (Basic Business Initiative) an organisation that recognises young entrepreneurs in London.

Nandile has since carved her own niche by facilitating Personal brand consultation workshops and started her own company

- Maphisa Productions that in the near future will produce personal development TV content for viewers.

Striving to empower young job seekers and serving the underserved during her ‘Lets combat unemployment’ One Day Leader campaign, Nandile made many school visits to underprivileged high schools and local universities to offer personal branding coaching and career guidance. Her aim was to make young people aware of how a lack of personal branding has contributed to the high youth unemployment rate in South Africa, and to educate young people on how to ‘attractively’ package themselves for potential employers in future. Nandile still visits schools to give personal branding coaching for the workplace.

Nandile has built up her personal brand by gaining work experience in various industries such as Event management, Television Production, Advertising and in the Public sector. Nandile currently works as a part-time personal branding coach and actress and is pursing business ventures within the entertainment industry.

How One Day Leader made an impact on meMy One Day Leader journey was fantastic and made a very positive impact on my life. I grew so much as an individual and

Nandile Mlambo


as a young leader. Losing debates also helped me improve my debating skills for each round and it encouraged me to build up resilience. I also learnt a lot about working with different personality types during team tasks.

Another great impact that One Day Leader made in my life was that it provided me with a greater platform to connect the youth with my personal brand, especially through my career guidance school tours that happened both in Gauteng and Kwa-Zulu Natal.

I am very passionate about offering career guidance services to underprivileged schools to combat the unemployment crises in South Africa. Therefore, this opportunity helped me bring my vision to life, which is to empower young people through personal development programs that will equip them in becoming renowned pioneers in their chosen career fields.

A South African who inspires meStrong, visionary, graceful, resilient, courageous, humble, and pioneer are just a few words that come to mind when I think of Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma. I often refer to her as ‘The trailblazer’ as her leadership has blossomed not only in the continent but also in the world at large.

Why Dr Dlamini-Zuma has inspired meDr Dlamini-Zuma inspires ambitious young women like me to become pioneers in their chosen career paths. I revere this leader for both her political and functional leadership skills at a local and global level. Having successfully managed several ministerial portfolios in South Africa’s new democracy, her leadership has proved to be very hands on and essential in adding value to people’s lives.

In 1999, whilst Dr Dlamini-Zuma was the minister of health she implemented the Tobacco Products Control Bill, which made smoking illegal and banned anyone from smoking in public. This sustainable strategy has had a long-term impact on the health consciousness and lives of South Africans, and it has improved South African environmental awareness.

Amongst her many prestigious awards and endless accolades in education, during her appointment as South Africa’s first female Minister of Foreign Affairs in 2002 she won a prestigious award titled the ‘Women who make a difference’ from the International Women’s Forum to pay tribute to her ‘People First’ approach to leadership.

In 2010 when Dr Dlamini-Zuma became the Minister of Home Affairs, she implemented a strategy to conduct Home Affairs’ first clean audit within the space of a year. She was also innovative by automating the process of applications, keeping the applicants informed on the progress and status of their applications, and changing the whole department to become more efficient and community centric in serving South African citizens at large. These innovative changes contributed to preventing internal corruption and saving the state millions of rands.

Dr Dlamini Zuma’s leadership in the African Union resonates with the humanitarian in me. I am so inspired by the incredible work that she and the rest of the AU has been doing on the African continent to ensure that all Africans have access to basic human rights, such as access to health, food and nutrition, energy, education and shelter.

I am also inspired by her determination and undying fighting spirit to effect, social change and I quote:“We do not rest until our people are freed from the bondage of poverty. “We do not rest until every child has access to quality education, health and a better quality of life.“We do not rest until women receive equal rights.“We do not rest until we have a skills revolution where African youth will be skilled in areas of science and technology, engineering and maths to innovate and drive the development of Africa into a prosperous and peaceful continent.“We do not rest until the guns are silenced, until our continent is an integrated prosperous and peaceful Africa driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena.”

I believe that Dr Dlamini-Zuma’s achievement of being appointed as the chairperson of the African Union in 2012 and being the first women from Southern Africa to lead the continent since the AU was founded in 1963, has paved the way for the rise of the up and coming female leaders in Africa.

What leadership qualities does Dr Dlamini-Zuma exhibit?Dr Dlami-Zuma’s leadership consists of a multitude of qualities such as: Humanity, vision, resilience, professionalism, excellence, a ‘people first’ and hands on approach, a strong and courageous fighting spirit.She is a dedicated, committed, and consistent leader.I believe that Dr Dlamini-Zuma’s leadership qualities, prestigious achievements, and wealth of experience can take the African continent to the next level.

Links: BBI UKhttp://www.sunnylambe.com/youth/http://www.africanvoiceonline.co.uk/bb-awards-2013-a-true-celebration-of-diversityachievement/One-Day Leader: https://youtu.be/v7NVrQ_oCv8

[ The truth and facts are - ‘You teach a woman, you

teach a nation’. ]


From the dusty streets of an unknown village I am a young lady as old as South Africa’s democracy and I hail

from a village called Shaleng in the North West. This is a village where taps and flushing toilets are not a reality, and where obtaining a degree or making a single appearance on television is enough to place you on the highest “hierarchy of respect”.

I am the first of three children and I am blessed to be the

daughter of a single parent that constantly forces me to be the

best that I can be. I am completing my final year in a social work

honours degree. I am also an entrepreneur, corporate events

coordinator and a transformational speaker. I am a strong

believer in empowering individuals from townships and villages

(hence these are the places I believe I am called for).

I believe in the empowerment of the mind and the pocket.

Villages and townships have come to a point where they do not

need speeches anymore but need economic transformation.

The lack of money and stable economies in our villages and

townships are a major problem and my vision has always

been to inculcate a culture of business ownership within these

places. Jobs are becoming scarce in our nation and my vision

is to transform village girls and boys (as we are so affectionately

called) into job creators as opposed to them being job seekers.

The ideology of collectivism has always been a value that

Africans have embraced historically, and I am proud to be

an African that holds on to the concept for dear life! I am not

interested in being the most powerful and successful individual

in my village, but I believe in building successful and healthy

communities. A community is only healthy and successful when

most of its members are a reflection of health and success. Any

one individual that reflects this is merely a current asset and not

a fixed asset. Over time a “standalone success” story becomes

meaningless to a collective community.

One Day Leader: ‘The birth of brand Natasha Loeto Sesing’I was honoured to be part of the One Day Leader Season 4

top 6 and in my countless newspaper and radio interviews I

constantly reiterate how the experience introduced me to the

rest of my life. It was a journey that I found to be very scary

as a village girl, but because of the support I received from

my village and province I could use the platform to become an

inspiration for young people that desire to lead.

The platform the SABC and One Day Leader afforded me

enabled me to start my company Loeto La Afrika. Loeto La

Afrika is a company that seeks to celebrate Africans by selling

products that can be incorporated into our daily outfits (these

range from head wraps to African accessories, bags and

clothing). It is common for Africans to wear African print clothing

to wedding celebrations only, but Loeto La Afrika has a vision of

adding a sparkle of Africa to our daily ensembles.

Loeto La Afrika was featured in two local publications in the

month of August 2016 and as the CEO of the company I

have been honoured to sit on panels addressing youth in

Natasha Sesing

Graced with Fierce Intelligence


entrepreneurship, women empowerment and the essence of

being African. I left One Day Leader to focus on my academics

and this was a bold decision I still pride myself in. One Day

Leader has not only created a platform for me to speak and

inspire young people, but it has also brought mentees along

my way and I am blessed and honoured to transfer the

knowledge that I have learnt to the powerful individuals that

I am mentoring.

Working_#Woman_Wonder: Wendy Luhabe“Being powerful is like being a lady. If you have to tell people

you are, you aren’t.” – Margaret Thatcher

South Africa is a land alive with possibilities and powerful

individuals who have shown us that this narrative is true,

without necessarily boasting about their power. My moral

hero and inspirational leader, Wendy Luhabe is a social

entrepreneur, economic activist, thought leader, mentor, author

and has sat on countless executive boards (nationally and

internationally). Some of her achievements include founding

the Women Investment Portfolio Holdings Company in 1993

that was listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. She

also founded ‘Bridging the Gap’, a company that focuses on

preparing young black professionals for the work field and it

also supports South African businesses by assisting them

with integration into the business world.

Wendy Luhabe is a powerhouse that draws the

respect of many of her followers, without saying a

single word (as her work speaks for her). There

are three leadership qualities that Ms. Luhabe

has exhibited throughout the years that have

greatly influenced my views and journey as

a young leader. The first leadership quality is

decisiveness. A thought leader not only inspires

and motivates his/her followers or mentees, but

it is of paramount importance that a leader of this

calibre has the ability to make decisions that are

consistent with their vision and brand identity.

Wendy Luhabe has proven her decisiveness as a

leader by becoming an economic activist that seeks to

advocate for the betterment of others by using economic

power for change. In an article that Luhabe wrote on her

website (http://www.wendyluhabe.org/) on 13 March 2016,

she defines economic activism as, “using economic power for

change, and it focuses on the idea of using one’s wealth to

represent one’s values and seeks to transform an exploitative

economic structure. The principle behind economic activism is

that of sharing, collaboration, giving, and empowerment and

helping each other to create the kind of communities we want

to live in, where everyone thrives and enjoys a decent quality

of living”. Her decisiveness to advocate for this course has

greatly inspired my views on using enterprise development as

a tool to unearth poverty in villages and townships.

Authenticity is the second leadership quality that Luhabe

has exhibited in her lifetime. Her innovative ideas and character

have shown us that she is an authentic leader that finds no

pleasure in imitating others, instead she is admired and often

imitated. This leadership quality has taught me to stay true to

myself and to find my voice as a leader.

Lastly, Confidence is another leadership quality that I have

seen Luhabe exhibit as a thought leader. This is evident in the

atmosphere that she creates when she is interviewed; as a

result, she displays insight on the matters that she discusses

on these platforms. An individual can never lead from a place

of doubt and fear. As a young leader I do not take this quality

lightly and I believe that confidence births fearless leaders.

In a South Africa, alive with possibilities, it is often a challenge

to spot opportunities amidst the cluster of social challenges

and fears. As a young leader, I am honoured to share the

commonality of a country and economic activism ideals with

a giant like Wendy Luhabe. I am equal to the task of making

villages and townships the hope of our nation.

“We should give leadership a human face, particularly in the world we live in today where

new leaders will change the game and say ‘we all

matter even if we are different’”

– Wendy Luhabe.


ThamsanqaPooeI was born in 1994, in Vereeniging, south of Johannesburg. I

grew up in two separate worlds: the sprawling working class township of Sebokeng, and the lush suburbs of Arcon Park

in Vereeniging. It is this experience of two separate worlds that cemented my passion to bridge the divide between the rich and the poor in South Africa.

I began debating and getting involved in leadership from a young age, but things only took off during my varsity years at Wits University. I was a debater and public speaker, and won numerous awards in provincial and national tournaments. The highlight of my journey was being elected President of the Wits Public Speaking Academy (Afrospeak). I was also elected into Wits SRC for two consecutive years, and served as Transformation Officer and Social and Community Development Officer respectively.

At the end of 2015, I decided to take my work outside of Wits, to make a greater impact. I applied for One Day Leader and got in! I made Top 4, before leaving the competition. One Day Leader showed me how the real world works, and set me up to go after my dreams with more intention. It put me in a position where I knew that I do have support, not only from Wits but from ordinary South Africans, and that I could form lasting partnerships with people.

I put my skills and knowledge to test, and I am currently involved in three startups: Tshimong, Wanafunzi and Varsity Diggs.Tshimong is a skills development company that specializes in the creation and facilitation of debate and public speaking workshops and tournaments; and youth leadership development. I started Tshimong alongside my friend, Bongani Masilela, in 2015. He and I are avid debaters, public speakers and student leaders who wanted to explore ways to make money from teaching young people the skills that we had spent 8 years of our lives mastering. We registered Tshimong at the end of my journey on One Day Leader. In our first six months of operations, we secured partnerships with the Ekurhuleni Municipality, Gauteng Department of Education, and Wits Development and Leadership Unit. We have also secured corporate partnerships for 2017 that will be announced soon. Wanafunzi is an online crowdfunding platform that connects youth-owned startups to investors. The platform is currently being coded and will be launched in March 2017. In the build-up to the launch, we are hosting live sessions called the ‘Wanafunzi Connect Space’ to connect startups to a ‘crowd’ of people, including venture capitalists, angel investors, and corporates.

Varsity Diggs is a website that connects students to landlords – owners of apartment buildings, communes, residential accommodation, etc. I recently started working on this project as a sales head to reach university students and people who

would like to advertise their property on the site. My involvement in these startups excites me, and gives me meaning and purpose. My focus right now is on growing them. I want to see Tshimong being the biggest youth-based, skills development company in South Africa in a few years to come. I want to see Wanafunzi succeeding in the South African context. There is a lot of money in our country, and some of it needs to go to supporting young entrepreneurs who are starting amazing initiatives. I want to see Varsity Diggs grow into something like ‘Property 24’ or ‘Private Property,’ and I am excited to be involved in the building stages of all three. I’m optimistic. I never really tell people, but I want to be a millionaire by age 25.

As an entrepreneur, I look up to African business leaders, empire builders, and high-flying executives of companies who

wield widespread influence in Africa’s business and economic circles.

My personal favourite is an entrepreneur and

corporate titan who possesses clout in both the private and public sectors of our country. He is a voice much listened to within Africa’s business and

political circles, and through his actions,

he shapes the future of many young South Africans

– Sizwe Nxasana. Nxasana is a Kwa-Zulu Natal born

Char tered Accountant and Business Leader. He studied Accounting Science at the University of Fort Hare and began his career in 1984 as the Audit Supervisor at PWC International Limited. It wasn’t until 1991 that his career rocketed, and he became the Chairman of Barclays Africa Group LTD. He chaired several organizations including Msele Hosken Group (Pty) Limited and the South African Revenue Services. He was also appointed as a non-executive director of NBS Boland Bank and the Development Bank of South Africa.

His first CEO position was in a company that he started. In 1996, he was a founding member of Nkonki Sizwe Ntsaluba. He was chosen by the other partners to be the National Managing Partner. They worked hard to build several offices in the country and employed 400+ professionals in the firm. After 10 years of building what we now know as Sizwe Ntsaluba

Gobodo, he decided to take on a new challenge. He was appointed as the CEO of Telkom. When he started on the job, he did not understand the telecommunications

Sizwe Nxasana


industry, having being trained as an auditor. Nevertheless he led the company to being listed on Johannesburg Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange. Owing to his reputation of leaving a company once he has made his mark, he moved to FirstRand LTD, where he worked as CEO from 2005 to 2015.

Having achieved incredible success in the private sector, Nxasana moved to the public sector. Corporates have a wealth of knowledge but many of them retire to sit on boards, or to manage venture network funds. Nxasana went in the opposite direction because he recognized the need to promote corporation between business and government in the field of education, entrepreneurship and development.

He was appointed as the new chair of the controversy-hit National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), in the hope that he can turn the state’s project around. I have worked as a member of the Student Representative Council (SRC) for two consecutive years, and I have seen how difficult it is for poor students to access NSFAS funds. Despite a budget that has increased to R9.5-billion from R441-million since its inception in 1999, NSFAS rejects funding applications from thousands of deserving students each year, citing a shortage of funds.Nxasana could turn NSFAS around because he has a wealth of knowledge from running some of the biggest multinational corporations. He is known to be a disciplinarian, and it is clear in this context that discipline, planning, and prudent spending is what is needed to lead NSFAS into the future.

His work at NSFAS, and his passion for education has led him to his latest business venture, the Sifiso Learning Group. Sifiso is an integrated learning group that is focused on developing “an ecosystem” across the entire education spectrum – from early childhood development phase all the way up to the

tertiary level. The biggest project he is working on under the Sifiso umbrella is the launch of the ‘Future Nation Schools. ’What is important for me here is that as Africans, and as South Africans in particular, we need to realise that education is the most sustainable tool for achieving economic growth. The world is changing rapidly, and this change is driven by people who are educated, who can solve problems, who were trained to be leaders and entrepreneurs. If I look at my own life, education has been the key to many of my personal successes. It has given me the ability to navigate a complex, dynamic and ever-changing world, and this is why Nxasana’s work in the education sector is inspirational to me.

In sum, I have drawn four key lessons from Nxasana’s story: • Self-managementSelf-management is being conscious of ones strengths and weaknesses and managing those in order to begin managing a group of people. If you really think about it, self-management is one of the most critical components in leadership. Before we lead others, we have to lead ourselves. We have to have a personal vision, goals, a healthy self-esteem, etc. and these virtues are extended to the rest of society. In my personal life, similar to Nxasana, I have principles that I live by on a day to day basis. These are my personal principles, and as I learn to master them, I learn to lead others with integrity.

• EmpathyEmpathy is the ability to see how people can be better if they get a nudge in the right direction. It is easy to think that everyone is empathetic, but it is not always true. I have been involved in a number of contexts where leaders simply could not put themselves in other people’s shoes. An empathetic leader is moved to action from the burning desire to better other people’s lives. Leaders can teach themselves how to be more empathetic by doing simple things like buying a card holder from an old lady selling at the traffic light; by assisting a student pay their loan; by noticing that the security guard at their complex does not carry lunch to work, and buying them lunch. We can all do something. And this drive to action is the most important part of the story. It is the differentiating factor between empathy and sympathy.

• Pushing yourself out of your comfort zoneNxasana speaks about the ability to be comfortable with a group of people who disagree with us. I think that we have built such intolerance in our society that we struggle to build consensus on the simplest of issues. I have been in SRC twice, and I have had to step outside of my personal comfort zone many times in order to serve the people who elected me into office.

The second aspect of pushing yourself out of your comfort zone is pushing boundaries. Nxasana embodies this so well. He came from humble beginnings, and conquered industries that he did not understand at first. If he refused to learn and grow, he would have failed. It is important that as leaders, we break free from our limited perspective so that we can learn and grow.

• Humility There is not much to say about humility, expect that we are only as good as the people around us.


Ndumiso Hadebe

A Development Economist and Strategist, Ndumiso Hadebe is a young dynamic South African who is passionate about South Africa and the rising Africa

story. This theme is a pillar of the work that he does. He believes that it is important to support organisations and companies looking to be partners in developing the African private sector and helping governments respond effectively to the short-term and long-term needs of their fast-growing populations. His work is reflected through his participation in work that seeks to unlock the potential that lies in a skilled and motivated workforce as well as a durable strong business sector with youth at the centre of development in SA and the continent at large.

He is the winner of SA’s most contested youth leadership debate show One Day Leader Season 2 on SABC 1. He has served as a mentor on Future Leaders a youth leadership development programme for youth under the age of 18 on SABC 1, in which he has mentored young people across South Africa to establish community initiatives to respond to socio-economic issues in their communities whilst accelerating their leadership development.

He serves as a member of CHATZ SA in the Sedibeng region, south of Johannesburg which provides training and mentorship to youth in the region with regard to leadership skills, drug and substance abuse, teenage pregnancy and upskilling young people with critical artisan skills so that South Africa can

produce the 30 000 new artisans required annually in order to respond to South Africa’s infrastructure development backlog. CHATZ SA’s target market is youth between the ages of 13 – 18 as those are the critical years in which young people decide on career paths. CHATZ’s goal is to capacitate young people with the requisite skills that are required in industry.

Responding to the need to unlock South Africa and Africa’s young demographic dividend, Ndumiso and his partners Mudinda Denga and Olivier Tshimbidi are Directors of Master Frontiers Advisory, a research and advisory firm. The team has years of experience in Research, Economic and Policy Trend analysis, Market Entry Strategy, Oil and Gas consulting and underground and surface coal mining, operational risk management, mine planning and production scheduling.

He is the contributing author of a published book titled “Reflections on South Africa” in which he gives a comprehensive account of the role that entrepreneurship can play in addressing SA’s mass joblessness. The foreword of the book is written by H.E President Jacob Zuma. He has recently delivered a TEDx presentation on “Why bad leadership is actually good”; which introduces audiences to different paradigms of leadership and management in the 21st century in response to a complex and changing environment.

Ndumiso’s insight into youth leadership and development have led him to address and advise foreign investor conferences through the Gordon Institute of Business Science, University of the Free State and Fudan University in Shanghai, China. As an Analyst, Ndumiso has led change management for one of the leading micro-finance lenders in the country and was one of the youngest serving members of the Board of Directors Steering Committee.

He has served in the Institutional Senate and Commerce Faculty Board of the North-West University. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Economics and International from the North-West University (NWU), an Advanced Certificate in Applied Economics from the University Cape Town (UCT) and is currently reading towards his Honours Bachelor of Commerce in Economics from the University of South Africa (UNISA).

He believes that in a time when the world is experiencing unprecedented change, when our ability and agility to learn becomes slower than the pace of change we become irrelevant; that is true for young people, companies, governments and leaders in particular.


Ndumiso Hadebe

Sanda Ncama

I entered season 2 of One Day Leader. Being eliminated on the same day I won my one debate was a humbling

experience. One Day Leader showed me what I did not know rather than what I did know about myself and this country. It put a stamp and a mark on my leadership, and affirmed the love and passion I have for South Africa. Inspired by my experience on One Day Leader I’m currently studying a BA in Human Social Science via Unisa. I also run my own company Sanphiltim Creations (Sanda Phillip Timothy).

Months after the show (when I was still shooting Future Leaders Season One), I sat down and reminisced about my first episode on One Day Leader - how nervous I was. I feared a lot of things, fear of the unknown. During my experience, I was hated by some, loved by some. I cried, I laughed. I was criticised, I was loved. All of that made me rely on one thing, my inner feelings. What mattered at that point was what I felt about myself, and obviously what God (as the person who called me) thought of me.

When reminiscing, something dawned on me. I was always ready for leadership; I was not ready for TV. I never got to orientate my mind on what was about to take place, that my mistakes and shortcomings were going be broadcast live on national television in front of millions of people.

The experience gave my enemies ammunition to shoot with when dealing with me. It also, however, gave my loved ones a clear picture of who and what I’m about. On the show, I was never transparent, I was naked. I gave myself to it like a newly converted giving his/her life to Christ.

Over some time, I saw One Day Leader as an institute of some sort based on the number of things it teaches an individual. Giving practical solutions to what South Africans face on a day to day basis. Furthermore, I now appreciate that it deploys young social activists to be beacons of hope and catalysts of change.

Favourite LeaderIt pains me to think that we hardly have a new breed of leadership in this day and age. People that can serve selflessly, with altruism and lack of vanity. I strive to take after our forefathers. I sat down for a very long time and tried to think who can I say is my favourite Leader in this day and age; sadly I couldn’t find anyone.

With that being said, my loyalty still lies with former President of the Republic of South Africa Mr Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki, how he handled his humiliation of being removed from presidency was the main reason I accepted the calling into leadership. I remember the day like it was yesterday. I was 17 years of age at the time and was recently elected as the Deputy President of the LRC (Learner Representative Council) at my High School. I remember saying to myself, “That’s the leader I’ll become one day”. A leader who realises that it’s not about him, but about his calling and conviction. A leader who doesn’t wait to be put into executive positions of power but creates platforms to carry out the mandate sent to him by God and His people. Thabo Mbeki continues his quest for Africa to be born anew even after his presidency through his foundation, the Thabo Mbeki African Institute (TMALI) via UNISA. He never seeks recognition or to be thanked but focuses on his calling.

[A leader who realises that it’s not about him, but about his calling and

conviction.]

If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.

John Quincy Adams

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