Songezo Zibi on RISE Mzansi’s vision and mission

Songezo Zibi is the National Leader of RISE Mzansi, which he co-founded in April 2023.

Born in the Eastern Cape, Zibi has said that being raised in rural South Africa greatly influenced his political beliefs. His uncle Vuyani Zibi, an uMkhonto we Sizwe fighter, was killed by SADF special forces in Maseru in 1982.

Songezo enjoyed a career in corporate communications, working among others with Volkswagen, XStrata, and Absa. He found time to work as executive editor of Business Day from 2014 to 2016, co-founded the ‘Midrand Group’ of intellectuals and its successor, think tank – the Rivonia Circle. Zibi has served on the boards of the Centre for Development and Enterprise and the Open Society Foundation in South Africa.

He is also the author of two successful books – Manifesto: A New Vision for South Africa and Raising the Bar – Hope & Renewal in South Africa.

Zibi will address the Press Club on RISE Mzansi’s vision and mission, land reform, coalition politics, and the responsibilities of leadership. He will take questions.

Photo: Franschhoek Literary Festival