By SAADP: 04 August 2023
We are excited to introduce our new Executive Director and Board member, Nthato Selebi. With a youth-focused mindset and a fully transparent and collaborative leadership style, Nthato joins us with a deep understanding of what it takes to run a successful Non-Profit Organisation. He’s spent the bulk of his career in the youth development arena. Nthato brings 23 years’ worth of youth development experience from the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA), where he served as a Director for National Projects, including the Thuthuka Bursary Fund.
Redefining the company’s strategic intent, vision, and most importantly its identity is something Nthato envisions for SAADP. He sees a lot of similarities with SAICA where he has worked in the past.
When asked what triggered his passion for youth development, Nthato shares, “It goes without saying that our country has many challenges to overcome in order to deliver on the long-awaited promise of a better life for its citizens.
Decades after the ushering in of the democratic dispensation, many continue to find themselves trapped by the by-products of the Apartheid system, namely inequality, poverty, and exclusion. Despite the dire circumstances and conditions that are a result of these by-products, our country remains blessed with the most precious resource to help us overcome these challenges – the youth. Investing in and the development of the youth remains a game changer for our country.”
Nthato takes over from Nokwanda Mkhize who has served as an Executive Director for 20 years. During Nokwanda’s era, SAADP contributed to the development of black actuaries, seeing 569 actuarial graduates and 82 qualifying as actuaries.
“Joining SAADP provides one with the opportunity to continue to work in the area of youth development and to make a contribution towards the delivery of the long overdue promise. SAADP is well positioned to make a significant contribution to the delivery of much-needed skills for our country and economy, as well as be at the forefront of transforming the actuarial profession. This is the work that excites us and gets us out of bed every morning, ready to play our part,” says Nthato.
He believes that by providing education opportunities to youth across the length and breadth of this beautiful country in order to grow the number of scarce and highly sought-after skills our country needs, there is no doubt that the future of the actuarial science profession and that of our country looks bright.
Nthato’s work experience epitomizes his strong passion for youth development. He worked as a Director for National Projects at SAICA, responsible for the transformation of the prequalification pipeline of the accountancy profession with the aim of transforming the SAICA membership to be reflective of the country’s demographics in terms of race and gender. Prior to this role, he functioned as a Project Director for SAICA’s Thuthuka Bursary Fund, responsible for the overall operational and strategic matters of the Thuthuka Bursary Fund. He was promoted to this role after having served for 3 years as a manager for the Thuthuka Bursary Fund. Nthato joined SAICA in 2000 as a Project Manager for Transformation, responsible for equity development and career awareness projects.
His education includes:
- LLB (UNISA), 2019
- Certificate: Compliance Management (UCT), 2019
- BA Sociology Honors (RAU), 2004
- BA Sociology Based Human Relations, Connecticut College (USA), 1994
- Teacher Certificate, Connecticut College (USA), 1994
Nthato was born in Soweto, raised in Katlehong, and grew up in the Bronx, NY, USA. He lived in the USA for 14 years from the age of 13. He is:
- A qualified Educator motivated by youth development. Taught in the US and South Africa.
- Former Head Coach for U/18 and U/20 Girls National Basketball Team.
- Tshwane Suns Ladies Head Coach (Women’s Basketball National League)
- Husband to Lerato and father to three boys – Tshepiso, Tshegofatso, and Tshenolo.
As a sports fanatic, Nthato enjoys spending his time coaching Women’s Basketball. Apart from that, he spends his time with his wife and three boys.
