This past year has been one of consolidation and renewed growth. ALI SA has moved from guarding its very existence to rediscovering its momentum, energy and voice. There has been a significant rise in interest, engagement and enthusiasm among Fellows, including some who have returned after a long absence. Many stepped back during the period when ALI SA faced a prolonged existential threat; their return is a powerful signal that confidence has been restored and that the fellowship feels itself on firmer ground.
Alongside this reconnection, there has been a deliberate focus on building thought leadership. ALI SA has engaged key contemporary local and international challenges and opportunities across a range of platforms. The net effect is a palpable shift from inertia and disquiet to impetus and boldness of spirit, an almost impatient desire to drive towards meaningful positive impact on society.
Hosting the Africa Impact Forum in Cape Town and Hermanus reminded us that Africa’s greatest assets are its people. When dedicated, talented individuals from across our vibrant continent gather in one place, the “Power of We” becomes tangible rather than theoretical. The conversations at AIF 2025 revealed how much we share in common, as well as the urgency with which we must confront our similar yet distinct challenges. The gathering underscored how much more we can achieve when we deliberately harness the network’s collective influence and global access to craft innovative and daring solutions for a reimagined, attainable and bright African future.
“The net effect is a palpable shift from inertia and disquiet to impetus and boldness of spirit, an almost impatient desire to drive towards meaningful positive impact on society.”
In 2025, the fellowship did not shy away from the complexity of the world it inhabits. Through the SALDRU dialogues on the shadow economy and extortion, and the June session on navigating geopolitical shifts, Fellows grappled with some of the most challenging realities shaping South Africa and the wider world. In such a context, effective leadership cannot be defined solely by technical competence or positional authority. The pace of change and the fragmentation of civil societies demand leaders who bring a deep sense of humanity and compassion to their work. Our future depends on leaders who can connect, inspire, engage, influence and include, especially those whose being and perspective differ from their own. This Ubuntu-inspired approach calls for nuance, contextual and situational awareness, intelligence, humility and inclusiveness, while remaining vigilant in protecting indispensable fundamental values such as mutual respect, integrity and honesty.
The journeys of ALI SA Class XIV: Pamoja (Together) and Class XV: Khawuleza (Hurry Up) have been a vivid embodiment of the leadership moment we find ourselves in. These names are more than cohort labels. They capture the twin demands of our time: unity and urgency. Our leadership journey is rooted in both. Pamoja and Khawuleza together serve as a call to align hearts and accelerate action, to move together while refusing to delay the change our communities need. Unity without urgency risks complacency, while urgency without togetherness risks fragmentation. The power lies in holding both, and our Fellows have begun to demonstrate what that looks like in practice.
In a year marked by extortion, geopolitical instability and economic pressure, it is easy to understand why some might argue that the idea of the Good Society feels distant. Yet it is precisely in these conditions that our North Star proves its worth. The Good Society anchors strategy in dignity, justice and shared prosperity, ensuring that our decisions are transformative rather than merely transactional. Without such a compass, leadership can easily drift into short-termism or narrow self-interest. With it, we are reminded that the point of our work is not survival for its own sake, but the steady construction of a society that works for all.
As we step into 2026, the charge to all ALI SA Fellows, both new and seasoned, is clear: lead boldly, collaborate deeply and keep your eyes fixed on the horizon we are building, one that includes and uplifts every person touched by our work. This means focusing on pragmatic, solution-based initiatives across our areas of expertise and interest and being willing to test and learn in real time rather than waiting for perfect conditions that will never arrive.
“Unity without urgency risks complacency, while urgency without togetherness risks fragmentation. The power lies in holding both, and our Fellows have begun to demonstrate what that looks like in practice.”
The recently launched ALI SA Impact Hub will be equipped to support Fellows as they pursue their ventures and advance their impact journeys. It is a practical expression of our belief that the Good Society must be built, not just imagined. Through the Impact Hub and through the continued courage and commitment of the fellowship, we can bring the Good Society more boldly into existence. Onwards and upwards!
In leadership and legacy,
Raymond Ndlovu
ALI SA Chairman
