23–25 May 2025 | De Hoek Country Hotel, Magaliesburg
The Africa Leadership Initiative South Africa (ALI SA) convened the second Good Society Seminar in the tranquil setting of Magaliesburg’s De Hoek Country Hotel, drawing together 19 ALI Fellows across the 13 graduated classes. From 23 to 25 May 2025, Fellows gathered to reflect, reconnect and reimagine the ideals of a Good Society—what it demands of us as individuals and as a collective.
This was not merely a seminar. It was a pause. A necessary breath. A shared moment to wrestle with questions of meaning, leadership and legacy, away from the noise and haste of daily demands.
A Seminar Rooted in the Soul of Fellowship
Moderated with grace and depth by Dele Olojede and Sharmi Surianarain, the seminar opened with a warm welcome and update from ALI SA Executive Director Lynette Chen.
The carefully curated readings and artworks—ranging from Judy Brown’s evocative “Trough” to Homer’s “Odyssey”, Mteto Nyati’s memoir “Betting on a Darkie” and poetic reflections by Seferis, Nuerenberger and Kenyon—offered fertile ground for introspection. The addition of visual works, including Moustafa Meraji’s untitled 2018 piece and the Star of Lemoyne Quilt by Rebecca Davis, deepened the experience, inviting layered interpretations of identity, resilience and belonging.
Insightful Fireside Chats with Nation-Builders
The seminar was enriched by compelling conversation with our two guest speakers:
Mteto Nyati, Chairman of Eskom and author of “Betting on a Darkie”, joined us for an intimate conversation facilitated by Dele Olojede. Nyati spoke candidly about leadership in the corporate and public spheres and shared his experience in turning around the woes of Eskom, which seemed an insurmountable challenge for the country for many years. Mteto challenged Fellows to remain principled, courageous and unapologetically African in vision and execution.
The second speaker, Prof. Busani Ngcaweni, Head of the National School of Government and ALI SA Fellow (Class X, X-Seed), led a wide-ranging discussion on building an ethical, professional and people-centred public service. His conversation, facilitated by Sharmi Surianarain, resonated with Fellows committed to public value creation and institutional integrity. He also provided his perspectives on the stability of SA’s Government of National Unity and ended with a positive note that whilst there has been some challenges with the integration, the GNU is making good progress.
A Return to Belonging and Purpose
Throughout the weekend, themes of exile and return, thorns and roses, isolation and belonging were explored—culminating in Sunday’s closing reflections on Kathryn Nuerenberger’s “A Sense of Belonging” and Jane Kenyon’s “Coming Home at Twilight in Late Summer.”
The seminar concluded with many Fellows expressing gratitude for the intellectual rigour, emotional richness and sense of community amongst Fellows from different classes, that the Good Society Seminar cultivates.
Feedback and Forward Momentum
Feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive. Fellows appreciated the safe and generative space created by the moderators, the depth of the discussions and the opportunity to engage in some soul tending with peers who reminded them of the special spirit of belonging to a fellowship.
“Fellows gathered to reflect, reconnect and reimagine the ideals of a Good Society—what it demands of us as individuals and as a collective.”
Roger Dickinson noted, “This seminar reminded me why I became a Fellow—to be challenged, to be nurtured and to contribute meaningfully to a future I still believe is possible.”
ALI SA remains committed to nurturing this space for reflection and recommitment. The Good Society Seminar is more than a weekend—it is a compass, a recalibration and a quiet revolution in service of something greater than ourselves.
For Fellows interested in joining the next edition in 2026, stay tuned for announcements. The journey continues.
For more moments from the Good Society Seminar, view the full photo gallery here.
