Bio
Sibongile Mkhabela is a former Student Leader, Executive member of the Soweto Students Representative Council (SSRC) and South African Students Movement General Secretary – both the driving force behind the nation-wide June 16 1976 revolt.
She was charged with 10 others for sedition in what was known as the Soweto 11 trial and imprisoned to three years at a female prison in Kroonstad, in the Free State. She was released in 1982.
On her release, she spearheaded the formation of a Para-legal Advice Centres Association which offered free services to aggrieved un-unionised workers on public law related issues.
She became Programme Director of the Development Resource Centre, paving the way to the establishment of the South African Grant Association (SAGA).
She served as UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) Consultant to help establish its presence in South Africa.
She enlisted into the Office of the then Deputy President Thabo Mbeki, 1995-1999, as Director of Programmes, Projects and Coordinator of a legislative process leading to the establishment of the National Development Agency (NDA).
A social work graduate from the university of Zululand, Mkhabela is author of a book, Open Earth and Black Roses – a story of June 16 1976.
She is currently at the helm of the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund, as the Chief Executive Officer.
She was an expert panelist on the third one-off TV special of national quiz show Test The Nation, entitled National Parenting Skills.