The View Point

Ithemba Lesizwe is a non-for-profit organization (NPO) based in eMbalenhle, Govan Mbeki Municipality,

Nominated by Sithembiso Mnisi

GUEST: Mr. Richard Ndzukula-  Co-founder of Ithemba Lesizwe

The 61st Ordinary Session of the authority of ECOWAS heads of state and government in the Ghanaian capital, Accra has concluded where a number of critical decisions had to be made. The region currently experiences rising insecurity in the Sahel and questions over how the bloc will move to restore civilian rule following three separate military coups across the region in the past few years. The West African bloc session resolutions include the lifting of sanctions on Mali's military regime, accepting a March 2024 return to civilian rule and agreed to allow Burkina Faso two years for its transition back to democracy. The economic and financial sanctions prohibited the trade of goods and closed borders between Mali and its neighbors, with exceptions for food, fuel and medicine. Burkina Faso - another Sahel country caught up in jihadist turmoil - and Guinea have so far only been suspended from the bodies of the 15-nation bloc. Burkina's junta proposed a constitutional referendum in December 2024 and legislative and presidential elections in February 2025.

GUEST: Adv. Tapiwa Chadya - Afro-Expert, Legal Practitioner and transnational activist 

Carolyn is the Founder of '67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day', an "initiative with a very big heart" which has attracted thousands of members not only in South Africa but also around the world. Carolyn established a partnership with The Department of Correctional Services in August 2015, enabling hundreds of prisoners in Correctional Centres across South Africa to contribute positively to a society that has been affected by crime and poverty.

GUEST: Carolyn Steyn 

GUEST: PJ Powers 

Guest: James Ngcobo, Artistic Director at the Joburg Theatre

Johannesburg’s Civic Theatre was built by the then city council in 1962, creating a high-profile landmark on the top of the Braamfontein hill. The building was given a magnificent face-lift in the late ‘80s, turning it into one of the most technically proficient theatres in the southern hemisphere.

Guest: Milisa Dumezweni

Guests: Zamokuhle January, Milisa Dumezweni, Thuto Tsinyane, participants of the Link Academy leadership programme

THE LINK’ – is a programme created by Airlink in 2016, it identifies bright young minds that have the potential to become excellent STEM mavericks, this group is mentored by Airlink while in high school for a period of three years and stand a chance of being awarded an Airlink bursary for completion of their tertiary studies. To date the programme has held innovation challenges at the followin destinations: Kimberley, Nelspruit; Pietermaritzburg; Bushbuckridge; Bloemfontein, Mthatha, Gqeberha, Cape Town and Wonderboom.

Guest: Prof.  Kelly Chibale, Professor of Organic Chemistry at the University of Cape Town

Prof Kelly Chibale was recently named as one of the stand out voices by Harvard Public Health for making a new path in the African public health, representing an increasingly deep bench of leaders shaping policy and practice on the continent.

Guest: Gift Lubele, Spokesperson of the Project Infrasalience

July is sustainability month, and there are numerous conversations being had about climate change, and what that looks like especially for emerging economies such as South Africa. The Babelegi Industrial Park in Hammanskraal is shifting and partaking in sustainable innovation through the piloting of Project Infrasalience which converges food production, carbon emissions, water stewardship and innovation, and it is an Africa-first.

Guest: Relebohile Mabonda, Masters student at Wits University 

Guest: Prof. Renata Schoeman, Head of MBA Healthcare Leadership at Stellenbosch Business School