APPOINTMENT OF A NEW BOARD OF DIRECTORS

For Immediate Release, 20 June 2025
Johannesburg

The OR Tambo School of Leadership proudly welcomes its newly appointed Board of Directors.

In December 2024, an open invitation for the nomination of candidates to serve on the School’s Board of Directors was published as the term of office of the previous Board was coming to an end on the 28th of February 2025. The Board’s term was extended to the 31st of May 2025 to allow the completion of the nomination and appointment of the new Board.

The nomination and appointment process of the new Board has been successfully concluded.

The following distinguished individuals have been appointed as Members of the new Board, with effect from the 2nd of June 2025 until the 31st of May 2028:

1. Mr Kgalema Motlanthe
2. Ms Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri
3. Mr Cassel Mathale
4. Ms Lorraine Hlapolosa
5. Dr David Masondo
6. Ambassador Brigitte Mabandla
7. Ambassador Jerry Matjila
8. Ms Bonita Loubser
9. Mr Lechesa Tsenoli
10. Ms Ayanda Dlodlo
11. Mr Frans Baleni
12. Ms Alison Bengston
13. Mr Ayabonga Cawe
14. Ms Marissa Van Rensburg
15. Ms Mantombi Nkosi
16. Mr Joshua Maluleke
17. Ms Busisiwe Paulina Shiba
18. Dr Tolika Sibiya
19. Prof Derrick Swartz
20. Prof Eddy Maloka
21. Prof Puleng Segalo
22. Prof Fiona Tregenna

This new Board represents a diverse group of individuals who have management and leadership experience across different fields, including but not limited to academia, diplomacy, public service, trade unions, business and the executive and legislative arms of the state. The School will also benefit enormously from the presence of thought leaders and practitioners in political education, trade union education, adult basic education, basic education and higher education.

This diversity of skills and depth of experience is well-aligned with the School’s vision and ambition of striving to be a Centre of Excellence for political education and training to develop a new generation of conscious, competent and ethical cadres for progressive change.

Gratitude to the Outgoing Board

The OR Tambo School of Leadership extends sincere appreciation to the outgoing board, whose term was extended to the 31st of May 2025, for their strategic stewardship during the foundational years of the institution.

Under the leadership of its Inaugural Chairperson, former President Kgalema Motlanthe, and Founding Principal, Dr David Masondo, the School achieved several historic milestones:

• The establishment of a fully functional board with relevant committees.
• Launch of the ground-breaking Introduction to Political Studies in 2019, which has been completed online by over 65 000 individuals and the development of 13 strategic courses and the induction programmes for all ANC MPs and MPLs.
• The School also introduced a Book Club and revived Umrabulo as a theoretical journal and platform for dialogue and discourse on progressive social change.
• The Ruth First Leadership Development Programme was launched to equip young people with tools for societal analysis and change.
• The School further built lasting partnerships with universities, foundations and international progressive institutions.
• Impressively, it maintained clean audits and financial sustainability throughout its term — a testament to its culture of ethical governance.
• The outgoing Board has also appointed the new Principal of the School, Mr David Makhura, through a rigorous, professional, competitive and transparent recruitment process.

The OR Tambo School of Leadership extends its heartfelt appreciation and best wishes to the outgoing Board of Directors. We thank them for their exemplary service and unwavering dedication. We sincerely wish each member continued success in their new assignments and future endeavours. We convey our special gratitude to Prof John Pampallis, an outstanding educator who is going into retirement.

As the OR Tambo School of Leadership, we face the future with confidence and remain firmly committed to the vision of becoming a Centre of Excellence for the development of a new generation of conscious, competent and ethical cadres for progressive social change.

The newly appointed board will hold its first meeting on the 4th of July 2025 to establish Board Committees and undergo induction.

ENDS//

Issued by the OR Tambo School of Leadership

For comments and any other enquiries please contact:

Kefentse Mkhari
+27 81 405 6714
kefetsem@ortamboschool.org.za