The 2022 Changemakers of South Africa

The African Centre for the Study of the United States at the University of the Witwatersrand, in partnership with Global Diaspora Connect, the Center for African Studies at Howard University and Democrats Abroad SA, held a blended event at the Origins Centre on the Braamfontein East Campus at Wits University with virtual access via the Zoom platform. Media from the event will be posted to the website soon.

Keynote addresses were given by Dr Krista Johnson from Howard University in Washington, D.C., USA, and by Natalie Burke from CommonHealth ACTION in  Washington D.C., USA.

The following people were recognised at the event as 2022 Changemakers of South Africa, in alphabetical order:

• Samad Davis, Trustee & Portfolio Manager at Pan Africa Group Holdings in New York City, USA .
• Thabo Dithane, Business Consultant at Khabonina Holdings in Johannesburg, South Africa.
• Mary L. Harris is CEO of J.M. Products South Africa in Johannesburg, South Africa.
• M. Thulani Mbatha, Country Representative and OPIQ Project Director at the University of California in San Francisco, USA. OPIQ refers to the Optimizing Performance by Improving Quality (OPIQ) in HIV and HIV/TB Programs in the Republic of South Africa.
• Julia Petla is the Managing Director of Amedzo Trading & Projects in Johannesburg, South Africa.
• Tuanni Price is Owner of Zuri Wine Tasting, which together with conducting a range of activities, hosts travel and events in Los Angeles, USA, and in Cape Town, South Africa.
• Cherae Robinson is the Founder and CEO of Tastemakers Africa in New York City, USA.
• Waahida Tolbert-Mbatha is Founder and Head of School at the Kgolololo Academy in Alexandra in Johannesburg, South Africa.
• Buyi Xaba is the Founder and CEO of BX Cosmetics in Johannesburg, South Africa. BX Cosmetics is a beauty brand by a woman of colour for women of colour.

Read more about the 2022 Changemakers here.