The Dr Nthato Motlana Foundation and the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) have formally announce a partnership whereby the Foundation has committed to fund the leadership component of the GIBS Centre for Leadership and Dialogue in the order of R1.5 million per annum over a period of three years.
The announcement was made at the Foundation’s launch event held at the GIBS Illovo campus in May. Both the Foundation and GIBS have a shared passion for leadership and finding innovative solutions for addressing the socio-economic problems facing South Africa today. The Foundation’s funding will ensure the scalability of the Centre’s existing leadership programmes and will also allow for the development of new programmes and help increase the reach of the programmes to include more South Africans across the country.
The Dr Nthato Motlana Foundation was established by the family of the late Dr Motlana to preserve and build on his legacy. A servant leader, compassionate doctor, brave politician, dedicated community activist, businessman and entrepreneur, Dr Motlana established the first black owned medical aid in 1978, the first black privately owned clinic in 1983 and led the first Black Economic Empowerment transaction with Sanlam for Metropolitan Life in 1993. The Foundation has chosen to focus its efforts on four key areas in which Dr Motlana was passionately involved during a lifetime devoted to public service: health, entrepreneurship, education and leadership.
The GIBS Centre for Leadership and Dialogue aims to equip leaders with the essential tools for achieving success in an increasingly complex world and with the capacity and insights to lead their businesses, public institutions and social enterprises into the future. The Centre’s leadership programmes support leaders in adopting an all-encompassing view of the South African context and help them to develop an awareness of their contributing role to the issues facing our country.
“Throughout his life, Dr Nthato Motlana championed the cause of the disempowered, disenfranchised and oppressed people of South Africa. He understood that political freedom meant little without economic freedom and believed that education was key to delivering a more equitable and just society.
“In GIBS, the Foundation has found a partner that shares the common values, principles and vision upheld by Dr Motlana. We firmly believe that the synergies between the Foundation and the Centre’s leadership programmes will allow for a significant impact to be made in transforming the fabric of South African society,” said Director of the Foundation, Dr Mashadi Motlana.
Dean of GIBS, Professor Nick Binedell, said, “The funding provided by the Foundation will allow for the increased scalability and substance of the Centre’s leadership programmes, which will be renamed the Dr Nthato Motlana Programmes for Leadership.
“I have no doubt that this partnership will help to further achieve our leadership programmes’ aim to strengthen social cohesion and capacitate business, government and societal leadership in the country,” Binedell concludes.
Luleka Mtongana
