2025 IofC Annual Lecture and Trustbuilding Awards

Initiatives of Change South Africa and IofC International are excited to host the 2025 Annual Lecture and Trustbuilding Awards ceremony on 12 November at 12:00pm UTC / GMT at the University of South Africa, in Pretoria, under the theme

This third edition of the event will include

• Inspiring contributions from distinguished guests as part of the IofC Annual Lecture.
• Celebration of three Trustbuilding Award winners
• Launch of a National Campaign and a sustained movement focused on family and community healing though trustbuilding, forgiveness, and reconciliation by IofC South Africa.

MEET OUR DISTINGUISHED SPEAKERS

Prof Sibusiso Vil-Nkomo

Short Bio

Professor Vil-Nkomo was Public Service Commissioner under President Nelson Mandela. He is a member of the Academy of Science in South Africa and the South African Association of Public Management and Administration which has established the Annual Prof Sibusiso Vil-Nkomo Lecture.

He is Chairperson of South Africa's Agricultural Research Council (ARC), Deputy Chairperson of the Water Research Commission (WRC), and Board Member of Subtropico Pty, Ltd, and Chairperson of the Board of Governors of the Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection (MISTRA).

From 2011-2012 he was a J William Fulbright Research Scholar in the Department of Economics at Fordham University in the US as well as a Fellow of the Fordham School of Business Consortium in New York City. He is a former member of the Executive of the University of Pretoria and Dean of the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences.

Prof Vil-Nkomo is a member of the Board of Advisors for the School of Public Policy and Administration at the University of Delaware in the US, is a Senior Research Fellow at the Foundation for Energy and Environment (FREE) in Delaware, US. and serves on the Editorial Board of the Servant Leadership Journal Published at Gonzaga University.

Ginn Fourie and Letlapa Mphahlele 

Short Bios

Ginn and Letlapa form an unlikely pair: a black atheist man and a white Christian woman. One has suffered directly from actions of the other, but both have been victims - and risen beyond their pain. What brings them together is a profound story of tragedy and hope.

They set up the Lyndi Fourie Foundation in 2003 to further reconciliation in in post-Apartheid South Africa. It is named after Ginn's daughter, Lyndi, who was killed at the Heidelberg Tavern Massacre in December 1993, organized by Letlapa, four months before the first free and fair democratic elections in South Africa.

Ginn trained as a physiotherapist and has practiced and enjoyed the profession, culminating in 18 years of teaching at UCT's Faculty of Health Sciences. She took early retirement in July 2003 to dedicate her time and passion her daughter's memory and legacy, by setting up the Lyndi Fourie Foundation, with Letlapa as co-founder.

Ginn explains how mercy was the only possible exit from her tunnel of grief. 'I define forgiveness as a process in which you take a principled decision to give up your justifiable right to revenge.' 'Forgiveness is part of moving from victim to survivor to wounded healer.'

Letlapa is the former leader of the Pan Africanist Congress of Azania and member of South Africa Parliament. Back in 1993 he was Director of Operations of APLA (Azanian Peoples Liberation Army) during #Apartheid and ordered the Heidelberg Tavern Massacre in Cape Town, a reprisal attack in response to the killing of black school children.

He is currently actively committed to healing and reconciliation work with ex-combatants and victims of violence in all groups in post-apartheid South Africa.

He is a published poet and philosopher. His autobiography, 'A Child of this Soil - the journey of a Freedom Fighter', tells his story of armed struggle and exile. 'Matlalela - The Flood is Coming' is a book of his poignant poetry.

‘Getting to know Ginn has been a profound and humbling experience for me. From our first meeting in 2002, Ginn understood me. While others couldn’t understand why these terrorists were still unapologetic, Ginn said that she detected remorse in me.’

‘I have changed since that time and I no longer believe you should meet violence with violence. ... My mission now is to reach out to those who survived, because by meeting together we are able to restore each other’s humanity.’

Beyond Forgiving

The award-winning film ‘Beyond Forgiving’, an Initiatives of Change production, tells the inspiring story of forgiveness and reconciliation between Ginn and Letlapa and their journey to bring healing to their country.

The trailer of the film, 'Beyond Forgiving', can be watched on YouTube.

Cleopadia 'Cleo' Mohlaodi

Short Bio

Cleopadia 'Cleo' Mohlaodi is a community builder, facilitator, coordinator and programme manager with over 15 years of experience driving personal and social transformation in South Africa and beyond. Her work with Initiatives of Change has positioned her as an influential leader in peacebuilding, inner healing, and leadership development.

Cleo has spearheaded impactful initiatives such as youth development camps, the Creators of Peace and Trustbuilding programmers, empowering hundreds of men, women, and youth to heal, grow, and lead positive change in their communities. She is known for her warm, fun, engaging facilitation style and her ability to create safe, inclusive spaces where people can reflect, connect, and discover new possibilities.

With a rich background in education, Information Technology, business, trauma response, community work — and fluent in several South African languages — Cleo bridges cultures and inspires action. Her passion lies in equipping individuals to transform personal pain into purpose, and to build communities (especially families) rooted in peace, justice, development and shared humanity.

Join us in-person or via livestream and discover more about the important trustbuilding work carried out by outstanding individuals and organizations from around the world and in the heart of South-African communities.

Save the date and register today to get updates about the event programme and livestream.

We can’t wait to welcome you at our highlight event of the year and share more information in the coming months! Stay tuned!

Event Organizing Team

Event Partners

We are looking forward to a successful partnership and collaboration with 
the Fetzer Institute, Guerrand-Hermès Foundation for Peace, World Peace Forum, Building Bridges for Peace and IofC South Africa.