In this POWER Week Leadership Spotlight, host Sello Hatang is joined by Adv Thandi Orleyn, President of the International Women’s Forum South Africa (IWFSA) and Chairman of Impala Platinum. Adv Orleyn begins by paying tribute to her late parents and sharing her upbringing in New Brighton, Port Elizabeth (now Gqeberha), reflecting on how her family navigates cultural heritage, faith, and the historical impacts of apartheid. She details her educational journey from St. Matthew’s and Inanda Seminary to Fort Hare University, where her legal studies were disrupted when she was expelled during the student uprisings of 1980.
Despite experiencing police intimidation, arrests, and political unrest, she persisted in completing her qualifications through UNISA, ultimately serving as an attorney with the Legal Resources Centre alongside notable human rights advocates. She discusses her early career, including her time as director of the CCMA and her decision to keep her original surname after marriage, highlighting her lifelong commitment to independence, personal conviction, and constitutional principles. Transitioning to her leadership roles today across the IWFSA, the Legal Resources Centre, and the Zenex Foundation, Adv Orleyn highlights the vital role of mentorship, continuous education, and corporate governance in driving meaningful transformation and creating opportunities for the next generation.
Audio content and interview recording courtesy of POWER 98.7 / Omny Studio (POWER Week hosted by Sello Hatang). All rights to the original broadcast remain with the publisher.
