Dear Fellows,
To say that 2020 was a year like no other, would be classified as a massive understatement. The COVID-19 pandemic has been the item looming largest for all of us at a political, professional, social and personal level. Beyond the pandemic there is still an unprecedented democratic challenge in the USA, the Black Lives Matter movement taking centre stage in the debate on race and the continued resurgence of separatism & nationalism across the globe. On the African continent we will have seen 10 presidential elections before 31 December 2020, the violent SARS protest in Nigeria and some troubling military conflict in Ethiopia. In South Africa the perennial debates around corruption and leadership have been magnified by the burden the pandemic has placed on our public resources.
It is in a world of uncertainty, with threats to social justice, that the values of ALI should be the beacon we look towards for guidance. In 2020, the fellows in our network have risen to the challenges and taken on greater roles in public life. In recent weeks we have seen the appointment of Tsakani Rastela, from the Dinatle Class, to the role of the Auditor-General of South Africa, as well as the appointment of Tandi Nzimande to the position of CEO of the solidarity fund (she is my Mahube classmate). Our outgoing Chairman Adi Enthoven served as Deputy Chairman of the Solidarity Fund and he was supported by a number of ALI fellows in this venture. Today the Chair of the Wits Council is our founder Isaac Shongwe, and another Mahube Classmate, Babalwa Ngonyama, is the Chairperson of the UCT Council. These are just a few of our fellows doing their bit to ensure that our public institutions continue to drive for a more just society, though I know that there are a long list of fellow contributing greatly in other facets of our society.
A few years ago when I joined the ALI board we defined the strategy as:
- Bind the Network
- Fix the Funding
- Build for the Future
This strategy was started under the leadership of our then Chairperson, Adi Enthoven. I can safely say that today we have really worked hard at making that strategy a reality. As Adi departs from the board, I need to commend and honour him for leaving ALI as a much better institution than the one he entered as Chairperson. Since this strategy was penned we have had two Africa Impact forums. The inaugural one at Spier and then one in Accra, Ghana this year. We have embarked on a dialogue series that has been running for 3 years and move from physical to digital without skipping a beat – this was the first in the AGLN and other fellowships have now followed our lead in implementing these. We currently have a Class 12 on the go, a blended model between virtual and physical that reflects the times we are in. Whilst this class is running we are now in the process of building a Class 13 to be launched in Q1 2020. So I am proud to report that the network has never been stronger.
Under Ralph Freese’s leadership we have seen us forge a tighter partnership with the AGLN, expand our product portfolio and lay the foundations for fundraising that will secure the future of ALI. In a further effort to bolster the leadership capacity of ALI, I am proud to announce that we add three more members to the ALI board:
- Khumo Shuenyane
- Nozipho Tshabalala
- Ayanda Ntsaluba
So as we wind down 2020, look for universal access to vaccination, a return to a “normal” life and just get some rest, I can tell you that ALI as a fellowship has shown some strength in 2020. That strength lies in the collective impact that our fellows make on society, which has grown significantly in 2020. I take this opportunity to wish you well over this holiday season and into the new year. Stay safe, sanitise, wear a mask, socially distance and let us continue to engage in building a better society in 2021
All the best
Enzo
