Nedlac Annual Summit 2025
Mr Thulani Tshefuta is a civil society activist and a development practitioner from Cradock in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. He is the leader of the NEDLAC Civil Society Constituency and the Chairperson of the G20 Civil Society Engagement Group, C20.
His areas of academic training include Politics, Public Administration, Leadership and Governance, Effective Stakeholder Management, Public and Economic Policy.
He holds the following post graduate qualifications:
- International Executive Development Programme from GIBS Business School and Crummer Graduate School of Business at Rollins University, Florida, USA (Post Graduate Diploma)
- Post Graduate Diploma in Governance specialising in Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) from Wits University
- Macro-Economic Modelling (NQF 8) with Economic Modelling Academy and GIBS
- Master of Management Degree on Governance specialising in M&E with Wits University with his research focused on youth employment.
Furthermore, Mr Thulani Tshefuta has the following specialised training:
- Economic Governance for Members of Executive from The National School of Government
- Formulating Skills Development Policies Linked to Labour Market Demand with the ILO International Training Centre in Turin, Italy
- Economic Policies for Inclusive Job-Rich Growth with the ILO International Training Centre in Turin, Italy
- Effective Employment Policies with the ILO International Training Centre in Turin, Italy
- Skills Development for the Green Economy by GTZ in Germany
- Just Energy Transition for Developing Economies by GTZ
- Poverty Reduction and Sustainable Development with the International Poverty Reduction Centre in China
He has extensive leadership and governance experience that was acquired through serving in various national structures and boards (past and present including): National Skills Authority, Unemployment Insurance Fund, Public Service SETA, Solidarity Fund, Proudly South African, Presidential BBBEE Council, African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM).
He is a registered member of the Institute of Directors in South Africa (IoDSA) with training and experience in corporate governance. He also has professional membership with South African Association of Public Administration and Management (SAAPAM) and South African Monitoring & Evaluation Association (SAMEA). He is also a Nelson Mandela – Bill Clinton Democracy Fellow.
Lebohang is a social justice and socio-economic rights activist committed to advancing financial inclusion, universal energy access and digital equity. She is the co-founder of Alternative Futures, a social enterprise platform supporting learners in communities affected by the energy transition and systemic inequalities.
Lebohang also serves as a representative of the NEDLAC Community Constituency on the Financial Sector Transformation Council.
Qualification: BEng (Mining Engineering)
Industry experience: 15 years
Tshegofatso is a qualified mining engineer with over 15 years’ experience in coal mining, mine management, and business improvement. As CPO at Sertit, he oversees people, health and corporate affairs, covering human capital, wellness, stakeholder engagement, communications, and social performance.
- Completed and achieved Bachelor of Arts degree in UKZN in 1994 and served as SRC member on a SASCO ticket.
- Has worked in local government sphere in Msunduzi municipality for a period of 19 years in different levels of management.
- He served in trade union SAMWU and COSATU at senior leadership level for period of 8 years at both provincial and national levels.
- He served in boards at director level for a period of 10 years. Having served in KZN Sharks board and Minister of Transport Advisory council.
- Served and lead in Civic movement SANCO both at provincial and national level for a period of 19 years.
- He served at Nedlac for over 10 years of which some those years he served as a Principal to date.
- Served as Member of Parliament for the period of 7 years from 2017-2024. He served in Transport Portfolio committee and Auditor General Portfolio Committee. He also served as Whip for International Relations Portfolio Committee for five years.
Mathe is the Chief Executive Officer of Business Unity South Africa (BUSA), a position he has held since January 2025. Before joining BUSA, he was the head of financial inclusion at the Banking Association South Africa (BASA), where he focused on driving transformation in the banking industry, fostering small business development, and promoting financial education.
An experienced policy development professional, Mathe has held various roles in public service, including positions in the Presidency, the National Planning Commission Secretariat, and the Department of Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation. Notably, during his time in the National Planning Commission Secretariat, he played a significant role in developing the National Development Plan and served as the head of the Secretariat.
Earlier in his career, Mathe spent 15 years in the education sector, specialising in adult education. He led the Tembaletu Community Education Centre, which gained national and international recognition for its outstanding work, earning two national awards and one international award. In 2007, he was appointed chairman of the Ministerial Committee tasked with reviewing adult education policy in South Africa and contributed to the establishment and governance of the Education Training and Development SETA.
Mathe is a certified director and a member of the Institute of Directors of South Africa (IODSA). He holds a Master of Science degree in development finance and a Master of Education degree focusing on adult education. Additionally, he is a fellow of the African Leadership Initiative (ALI), part of the Aspen Global Leadership Network, and an alumnus of the Ford Foundation International Fellowship Programme. He serves on the board of directors of the Ikusasa Student Financial Aid Programme (ISFAP) Foundation and was recently appointed to the boards of the Human Resources Development Council and the National Education Collaboration Trust.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Mathe is an enthusiastic long-distance athlete and has completed the Comrades Marathon ten times.
Kaizer is the CEO of the Association for Savings and Investment SA (ASISA), after working in the
financial and retail sectors in various capacities over the years. With a legal background, he also
serves organised business and employers in the following capacities:
- Chairperson of the Social Policy Standing Committee of Business Unity South Africa (BUSA)
- Overall Convenor of Organised Business Constituency at the National Economic and Labour
Council (NEDLAC) - Member of the Governing Body of the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation & Arbitration
(CCMA) - Commissioner of the National Minimum Wage Commission
- Member of the ILO Governing Body
I was the former and first female Deputy President of COSATU. I was the National Treasurer of SACTWU and a shop steward in the Clothing Industry.
I was a founding member of NEDLAC and participated in the Labour Chamber where various legislations were negotiated. I chaired the Commission on the Future of Labour in a Post-Apartheid South Africa, known as the September Commission.
I was a former Member of Parliament where I held various positions, including serving as a member of the Executive as a Cabinet Minister.
Currently, I participate in the sphere of Higher Education as an examiner of Masters and Doctoral students, as well as overseeing Quality Assurance for these programs. I participate as part of the research hub of private colleges.
I serve on the Magistrates Commission on the Legislative Committee and the Appointments Committee. I also serve on the Judicial Committee on Rationalisation of the Lower Courts – Judicial Commission. I am the Independent Chair of the Commission on Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration.
Education:
PhD
Post Graduate Diploma in Economic Policy
Masters Degree in Technology Management
Advanced Diploma in Economic Policy
Matric
