The Thulani Dlomo Foundation, herein referred to as The T.D Foundation, was registered on the 20th of January 2025, inspired by a vision Ambassador Thulani Dlomo divinely received in 2020. His vision was first documented in his book "The Encounter", and it became the blueprint for transformative action. After in-depth discussions and reflections with his wife, academics and friends, the Foundation was established as a cornerstone for fostering economic growth and empowering youth. We believe in the transformative power of education. By equipping young people with critical skills to navigate school, work, and social relationships effectively, the Foundation creates opportunities that contribute to individual success and broader societal progress.
The T.D Foundation is a South African civil society organisation dedicated to driving meaningful and sustainable change. We go beyond providing grants by offering capacity-building services to civil society organisations, empowering them to enhance their effectiveness in engaging citizens in development programmes.
Our primary focus is addressing pressing socio-economic challenges and governance issues that continue impacting communities. Through collaboration, innovation, and strategic action, we aim to be a catalyst for positive change and work toward a better future for all.
The youth of Africa are at a critical juncture. With South Africa's alarming youth unemployment rate of 60.2% among job seekers aged 15 to 24 (Statistics South Africa, 2024), South Africa faces mounting socio-economic challenges. Former South African President Thabo Mbeki cautioned that if issues such as poverty, poor governance, and lawlessness remain unaddressed, South Africa risks experiencing its own version of the Arab Spring, an outcome that no one can afford.
This urgency was underscored in July 2021, when civil unrest in South Africa led to losses exceeding R70 billion nationally, devastating communities and businesses alike (Erasmus, 2022). These realities emphasise the need for immediate, collective action to address the root cause of poverty, unemployment, and inequality.
The T.D Foundation is taking bold steps to illuminate the challenges and address them from grassroots heads-on. We are committed to empowering South Africa's youth through targeted initiatives that drive sustainable development, reduce poverty, and foster social responsibility and stability.
The mission of the Thulani Dlomo Foundation is to inspire hope, foster resilience, and act as an agent of change for young people and their communities. By promoting good governance, cultivating efficient leader ship, and alleviating poverty, we aim to uplift lives, restore dignity, and drive sustainable development
We envision a future where the youth of South Africa and Africa as a whole have access to quality education, meaningful employment opportunities, and the resources needed to realise their full potential
At the heart of the Thulani Dlomo Foundation are six guiding values that shape our work and interactions:
Love: We approach every initiative with compassion and care for the people we serve.
Kindness: We strive to cultivate understanding and generosity in all our endeavors.
Peace: We work toward creating harmony within communities and across borders.
Diversity: We celebrate the richness of different cultures, ideas, and perspectives.
Integrity: Honesty and ethical practices are the foundation of all our actions.
Ubuntu: "I am because we are" - our philosophy is rooted in the interconnectedness of humanity and community.
by supporting evidence-based initiatives, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, and driving meaningful impact in the field of research, data collection, and analysis. The T.D Foundation employs research and data analysis as tools to gain insights into the causes and effects of poverty, unemployment, and inequality. Research and data analysis assists the T.D Foundation to analyze data on education, job opportunities, and access to health care, making it easy for the T.D Foundation to direct organizations to identify the challenges facing the young people and develop strategies to address them. By analyzing data on the impact of programs and initiatives, the T.D Foundation can identify which strategies are working and which strategies are not and make adjustments required. This, in addition, can assist organizations collaborating with the T.D Foundation to optimize their efforts and make sure that they are reaching the intended audience.
We believe education is the cornerstone of societal progress in line with Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG4). By providing resources and opportunities for academic achievement, we aim to empower young people to become active and self-sufficient contributors to their communities. The goal also aims to promote lifelong learning opportunities. We partner with stakeholders in facilitating and enhancing the ethos of education from as early as Early Childhood Development (ECD).
This priority area aligns with SDG Goal 2 focused on hunger, which aims to end hunger, achieve food security, improve nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture by 2030. By fostering food security, creating youth employment, and enhancing economic resilience. This program underscores agriculture's pivotal role in eradicating hunger and poverty through uplifting African communities and building.
Peace is fundamental to human progress, We advocate for solutions to conflicts locally and globally, ensuring a stable environment where development can thrive. In line with SDG Goal 16 we essentially promote just, peaceful, and inclusive solutions by addressing the root causes of conflict, strengthening the rule of law, and promoting human rights.
Strong legal frameworks, accountability, and transparent leadership are essential for sustainable development. We strive to promote these values across all sectors of society.
With corporate partnerships, civil society, educational institutions, international partners involvement, we can significantly expand our reach and impact.
Our commitment to build a lasting legacy of hope, progress and impact, through strategic partnerships, community-led initiatives and a focus on youth development.
The T.D Foundation is dedicated to inspire hope, foster resilience and act as an agent of change for young people and their communities by fostering education, peace and security and community development in South Africa.
The Board of Trustees provides strategic oversight and ensures the Foundation remains aligned with its mission, vision, and values. The board includes distinguished professionals with expertise across diverse fields.
Chairperson
His Excellency Ambassador Thulani Dlomo is the former Deputy Director General at the Department of State Security Agency, South African Intelligence Services. He then moved into being the nation's Ambassador to Japan. Ambassador Dlomo is the champion for peace and youth empowerment. Ambassador Dlomo has received extensive training from leading organisations in the intelligence. This has qualified him to be the author of a great book that continues to stir many minds to "Rethink Africa".
Ambassador Dlomo completed his Bachelor of Arts in International Politics and Biblical Studies in 2017. He further completed his Bachelor of Arts Honours in International Politics in 2022 his Master of Business Studies in Leadership in 2024.
Trustee
Mrs. O.D. Dlomo is a dynamic leader, author, and dedicated servant of God with a passion for both spiritual and community development. She completed her high school education at Christ the King Academy, laying a strong academic foundation that has supported her diverse educational and professional pursuits. Between 2002 and 2004, Mrs. Dlomo pursued studies in Accounting and Business, equipping her with essential skills in financial management and organizational leader ship. In 2007, she expanded her expertise by completing a course in Events Management, further enhancing her ability to coordinate and oversee large-scale events and initiatives. Her deep commitment to spiritual growth led her to complete Bible Studies in 2013, followed by an advanced qualification in Systematic Theology in 2015.
In 2016, Mrs. Dlomo founded At His Feet Global Network, an organisation dedicated to spiritual mentorship and community outreach. As Director, she has led the organisation with vision and integrity, fostering a global community of believers committed to building a peaceful society which supports each other in all areas of life. Mrs. Dlomo is also an author of the inspirational book "Better Than Wine", which reflects her passion for sharing the transformative love of Christ. Her dedication extends beyond the church walls, as she actively engages in community service and outreach projects, aiming to uplift and empower individuals and families in need.
Ms Philile Dlomo
Ms Philile Dlomo is a highly motivated and dedicated individual with a strong academic foundation in Psychology and Criminology. She completed her Bachelor of Social Science specialising in Criminology & Psychology in 2017. She went on to Completed her Honours degree in Criminology in 2021. Currently, she is pursuing a Master's degree in Criminology.
Professionally, She possess valuable experience after having worked with diverse organisations, including lmbewu, a community initiative, AHF Women's Network, and a psychological practice. Her unique blend of academic knowledge and practical experience has equipped her with a deep understanding of the complexities of human behaviour and the criminal justice system.
Prof Jobo Dubihlela
Chairperson
Prof. Dubihlela is an expert banker-turned-academic, currently the head of masters and postgraduates in the Graduate School of Business and Leadership at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Prof Dubihlela obtained his PhD from Northwest University (NWU). His work expertise includes 15 years' leadership and management experience gained during his various managerial positions within the banking sector. His industry expertise is invaluable for his current academic, engagement and research endeavours. He is a Trustee Board member for a large pension fund, a board member with OWE and sits on various research committees and is a recipient of research achievement awards (2010), research recognition awards (201l, 2012) and the rector's annual research award (20l0). Although he bears well-grounded research and postgraduate supervision experience, with progressive collaborations nationally and internationally, he still sees himself as growing and willing to engage in contemporary research and recognises that an increase in the stock of knowledge is all about continuous learning. Good analytical skills, excellent communication and client relationship skills acquired when he was manager in the bank and through research.
Enthusiastic and confident with extensive knowledge of industry dynamics, gained over time, having been involved as a researcher and employee at managerial level(15 years experience). Dubihlela possess a strong collaborative network of large businesses in South Africa, having delivered key interventions and facilitations in various companies either as a corporate leader, independent contractor or facilitator: Barclays Africa, FNB Bank, Accenture, Nedbank, Liberty Group, MTN Group, Rand Water, Emfuleni Municipality etc. He possesses a wealth of knowledge of facilitating training sessions and workshops on the African continent for various multinational companies. His responsibilities include providing academic leadership at executive and operational levels within the school. In this regard, He is part of the executive as well as the management committees of the faculty. These elements ensured that the highest-quality courses are offered to students completing the programme, and ultimately resulted in them being benchmarked as exceeding their peers. His responsibilities further involve managing the human intellectual capital through the mentorship of colleagues employed within the school.
Over the years at the university, He has lectured on courses, coordinated, and supervised several undergraduate and postgraduate courses. In addition to his grounded technical background, he also possesses very strong quantitative and qualitative research abilities and is an active re searcher and supervisor of postgraduate students.
Dr Geoff Tshephe
Dr. Geoffrey Pinagase Tshephe is a dedicated family man and father of four. His educational journey began in 1980, culminating in matriculation in 199l. He pursued his first degree in 1992, followed by an honours degree in 1998, a Master in Education degree in 1999, and finally, a PhD in Educational Technology in 2017. His employment journey commenced in 1999 at Edgars store in Rustenburg as a casual employee while working part-time as a tutor at Unisa. He is currently the Deputy Director of the Directorate for Curriculum Development and Transformation at the University of South Africa (Unisa).
Throughout his career, he has held various positions across several organizations. He served as a teacher at Mmabatho Living Faith Combined School, an administrator at a university, a lecturer, a supplemental instruction coordinator at North-West University, and an academic development practitioner at the University of Limpopo (now Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University), where he also acted as the executive director for the Centre for Academic Excellence. Additionally, he worked at the University of Pretoria as a senior educational consultant before joining Unisa. At Unisa, he progressed from being a lecturer to senior lecturer and professional development specialist.