TRAILBLAZER
BY SINAZO MKOKO AND CHARNDRÉ EMMA KIPPIE
A new transition phase for the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund Outgoing CEO, Konehali Gugushe paves the way for her successor
T
he Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund will be under new leadership for the second half of 2022, with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Konehali Gugushe having served her last day in June 2022. According to the Board, Gugushe handed in her resignation in May 2022 and served her last day on 31 June 2022. She had served as CEO of the Children's Fund since March 2020 and will be now returning to her corporate social investment roots, according to the organisation. Her tenacity has paved her journey cultivating meaningful relationships throughout her professional career whilst taking on diverse roles. She handed over her duties to Interim CEO, Dr Stanley Maphosa, who is acting in this capacity from 1 July 2022, until a replacement can be found. While the Board of Trustees at the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund expressed disappointment with her departure, they’ve stated that they’re grateful to Gugushe who, in the past year, developed a new five-year strategy for the Fund, which brought depth to the organisation’s strategic framework including the integration of the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital in the Fund’s key programme areas. “Gugushe was also integral in overseeing the organisation’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, mitigating its impact on vulnerable communities,
28 | Public Sector Leaders | July 2022
