Patrick Mokhanda
My name is Patrick Mokhanda, a co-founder of Thuto Ikusasa and I’m a Chartered Accountant and also Chartered Global Management Account by profession.
Thuto Ikusasa for me represent a vibrant and energetic non-profit organization which is managed by a versatile group of professionals who identify with struggles that our education system faces in nurturing and developing learners that show potential to be the next leaders in our society.
I have seen many students who enter into tertiary and have the potential to succeed but due to lack of a solid and directed foundation they find themselves either choosing the wrong path or simply are not prepared for a life after high-school. This is where I believe the diversity of the members who are involved in various industries such as the arts, financial services, digital and data space, marketing and advertising, health sector and many more provide an opportunity for us to provide a platform to guide students on the possibilities and potential down falls of certain paths after high school. In turn preparing learners to make well rounded decisions about their future.
Also the fact that we are more than a academia fund and we recognize potential in sports and the arts shows our open mindedness to what success means to us as a fund
Sebolelo Mohanoe
My name is Sebolelo Mohanoe and I am an Occupational Therapist. When I was in grade 9, I was approached by IEDT which I had never heard of. I was told that and they were interested in funding my school fees as they had seen my academic achievements and extra curricular participation. This really meant a lot to me especially being a child of a single parent.
Being fortunate enough to be a part of this fund and seeing it from where it started gives me great hope for the future generation and is a great model in showing that by helping someone, you inevitably give them the boost and urge to help out someone who could be in a similar situation.
That’s why I’m so proud to be part of the Thuto iKusasa team which strives to offer the opportunity to those who are in a similar situation that I was in.
It’s a vessel for growth and change.
Adelaide Motata
Adelaide carries a double-degree from Monash University – a B.A. in International Relations and B.A. in Marketing.
Adelaide started out in the health and wellness industry, where she worked as a PR & Marketing Assistant, with some experience in Social Media management. She currently works as an Account Manager for a small-sized marketing and advertising communications agency in Sandton, Johannesburg.
Having been a product of the IEDT herself, Adelaide has learnt that education has been an important foundation for her success and how she navigates the world. It has opened many doors of opportunity and access to a network of people and/or companies where she has worked to pave the way for the growth and development of her career.
It is important to Adelaide that the ability to be able to gain access to these life-changing opportunities is shared with the others, especially the upcoming generation. And it is through education, that these foundations are able to be built for others to also go from strength to strength – not only to grow and prosper in their personal capacities, but to also be able to uplift and contribute to their communities and society at large.
Sabelo Xulu
My name is Sabelo Xulu. I am the holder of a BSc. Computer Science and Computer Engineering and a BSc(Hons) in Computer Science from the University of Cape Town. I currently work as a software engineer in the travel and tourism space.
My life story is one of the transformative power of education. My maternal grandmother was the principal of a small rural school in my native KZN, and she instilled the importance of education as a foundation for a rewarding and stable life. Both my parents imparted upon me the value and importance of education, and because of that and the opportunities to study at reputable institutions for both high school and university through the benevolence of funds such as the IEDT, I can testify to the importance of education as a bastion of individual progress.
That’s why I’m so excited to be involved in this initiative. Thuto Ikusasa represents a unique opportunity for young individuals who have personally had their trajectories uplifted to give back and pay it forward to other, exemplary young future leaders. Through the care we give to our funded students, our own networks and access, as well as through the continued management of the fund, we get to walk step by step with outstanding young individuals, and do our part for the continued growth of the next generation of South Africans.
This fund represents a concerted effort to take transformation and growth into our own hands, and I am proud to be an ongoing member.