Andy Kawa is a businesswoman, human right activist, coach,award winning author, speaker and Chairman of Kwanele Foundation, an advocacy organization against gender- based violence (GBV) that fights for justice for GBV victims.
She was the Founder and Chairman of Chuma Holdings, a women led investment company which had interests in the mining sector.
She has served in senior executive, (non)executive directorship, (vice)chairmanship positions, in in the following listed companies: Otis Elevator World Headquarters, Anglovaal Mining, Anglovaal Industries, Standard Bank, Aquarius Platinum SA, Sentula Mining, Mine Waste Solutions; in the USA, UK and South Africa.
She also had leadership positions in industry bodies and at Institutes of higher education. She was Vice Chairman of The Jewellery Council of South Africa, Council member of the Walter Sisulu University, Vice Chairman of the Walter Sisulu Foundation. She represented Aquarius Platinum at the Chamber of mines and set on the advisory body of the platinum sector during the Marikana Massacre.
Her advocacy for justice saw her institute a 12 year civil case against the Minister of Police in South Africa and won a landmark victory at the Constitutional Court in 2022, which proclaimed that police have a constitutional duty to investigate cases of GBV with due diligence and heightened care or else damages can flow from their negligence.
He leadership has been recognized in South Africa and internationally:
- Recipient of the 2020 Mbokodo Awards in Literature for my book “Kwanele Enough: My battle with the South African Police Service to get Justice for women.”
- Runner up of Community Builder of the Year in 2016 by the BBQ Awards.
- Delegate at the 60th UN Commission on the Status of Women.
- The Nelson Mandela Development Agency made a R60mil upgrade at Kings Beach in Qheberha in her honour for fighting for safe beaches.
- Awarded the Elizabeth Community Hero in 2014.
- Received Honorary membership to the International Golden Key Society from the University of Free.
- In 2013 she was chosen as one of the inspirational women in the world at the inaugural 100 BBC Women Conference in London.
- She holds a BSc in Applied Math and Psychology from the Walter Sisulu University (nee University of Transkei), an MA and EdM in Counselling Psychology from Columbia University (NY) and an MBA in Finance from the Wharton Business School.