advocate
My social advocacy focuses on removing institutional or structural constraints to individual and societal development, while seeking to inspire individuals to rise above their circumstances. My primary areas of focus are youth literacy, nation-building and social justice because I believe these place South Africa on a hopeful path. I pursue these aims through organisational affiliations as well as through media and public engagements.
Presenter, State of Our Nation on Classic 102.7
State of Our Nation is a weekly radioshow on Classic 102.7 for the thinking South African. Each week we evaluate our progress toward becoming a great nation along a different dimension. We address 12 broad categories, and ask, “What is the state of our …. “ Governance, Society, Citizens, Industry, Infrastructure, Education, Employment, Recreation, Relationships, Healthcare and Nutrition. Within each of these broad categories, we address more specific topics on the show. The discussion is reflective in nature and non-confrontational; it seeks to explore how we are doing as a nation along these different dimensions, and what can be done to improve. Podcasts are available HERE
Co-Founder & Chairman, Read to Rise (www.readtorise.org)
Read​ to Rise works deeply in under-resourced communities of South Africa to supply much-needed age-appropriate books to children who may otherwise not have access to these books. Our full-time team works directly in primary school classrooms to motivate children to read. We are currently embedded in Mitchells Plain (Cape Town) and Soweto (Johannesburg), and regularly work in other schools around the country.
Publications
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Leaders needed to ‘step into this chaos’ UCT News, 29 April 2020
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The need to address structural poverty, News24, 27 April 2020
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'Believe it or not, the economy is not the biggest of our concerns in South Africa,' Bizcommunity, 15 October 2019
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'Picture books: a great way to encourage children to read' Mail & Guardian, 12 December 2018
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'Picture books are five books in one' Nal'ibali, November 2018
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'It is Important for Children to See Themselves in Books' Nal'ibali, April 2018
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'We condone an education system that guarantees future inequality' Sunday Times, 17 June 2018
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'On Being Weird' Cape Times, 17 August 2017
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'Which South Africa are we saving?' Huffington Post, 12 April 2017
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'What We Witnessed At SONA Is A Breakdown Of Respect' Huffington Post, 16 February 2017
TV & Radio
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'SA's poor bear the burden of Covid-19,' CapeTalk, 20 April 2020
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Children need fun books to deal with scary topics, Radio 702, 22 April 2020
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'Books beat a failed system,' Beautiful News South Africa, January 2019
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'On a mission to inspire South Africa's youth to reach greater heights' eNCA, 14 September 2017
Media
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'South African poet and writer obtains five master’s degrees from top universities' LitNet, 11/9/2019
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'Business as usual won’t fix youth unemployment, poverty and inequality' Business Report, 23/06/19
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'Business as usual won’t fix youth unemployment, poverty and inequality' City Press, 21 June 2019
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'Reparations and big business,' CapeTalk, 29 January 2019
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'Business and socio-economic justice,' Radio 702, 18 July 2017
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'Oaky empowers 100k to read,' People's Post, 2018
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'Reader of the Pack,' Daily Voice, 2018
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'Library makes reading a breeze,' People's Post, 2017
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'Writer seeks to push boundaries for justice,' Cape Argus, 8 September 2017
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'Happy tree is kids’ play at mall,' People's Post, 2017
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'Birthday celebration for Read to Rise,' Plainsman, 2017
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'Local brothers get learners excited about literacy,' Workers World, 2016
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'Oaky’ helps pupils to read and grow stronger,' Plainsman, 2016
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'Sharing their love of reading,' News24, 2016
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'Author uses skills to help uplift others,' Cape Argus, 2015
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'Promoting Youth Literacy,' The Muse, 2015
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'Karabo Learners Read to Rise,' Bridge, 2015
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'Give the gift of reading,' Citysearch, 2015
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'Athol Williams Wins Inyathelo Award for Education,' Inyathelo, 2012
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'Transforming disadvantaged schools,' LeadSA, 2011
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'Hungry for Home,' Mail & Guardian, 2009
Speaker
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Keynote Address, Graduation Ceremony, Salesians Institute Youth Projects, Cape Town, 2018
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Guest Speaker, Salesians Institute Youth Projects, Cape Town, 2018
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Keynote Address, Actuarial Society of South Africa, Johannesburg, 2017
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Keynote Speaker, Glitz and the Ritz, Salvation Army, Sarasota FL, USA, 2017
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Keynote Address, Old Mutual Staff Volunteerism Awards, Cape Town, 2017
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Keynote Address, Engineering Faculty Awards, University of Cape Town, 2017
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Speaker, Gender (Dis)parity Report Launch, Bain & Company, Johannesburg, 2017
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Talk, 'Grounds for corporate moral responsibility,' Said Business School, Oxford, 2017
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Talk, 'Corporations and Justice,' Africa Society Symposium, Oxford, 2017
Past Roles
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Founder & Chairman, Taurus School Solutions, Cape Town
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Chairman, Family Life Centre, Johannesburg
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Board member, Khulisa Social Solutions, Johannesburg