“In that moment, I wasn’t just carrying my name…”
Weeks after speaking to SA Positive News ahead of Africa Youth Leaders Awards in Ghana, Keiskammahoek youth leader Zinzile Mhesele returns home, not only as a nominee but as a continental winner.
Mhesele received the Sports Leadership and Youth Development Award, recognising years of grassroots work using sport to empower young people and uplift communities in the Eastern Cape.
The Africa Youth Leaders Awards celebrate young change makers from across the continent who are making a meaningful impact through leadership, innovation and community development. For Mhesele, the award is more than a personal achievement but recognition that meaningful change can begin in South Africa’s rural communities.
“It was overwhelming,” he recalled, “I stood there and thought, ‘that’s me, Zinzile from the rural areas of Keiskammahoek’.
“In that moment, I wasn’t just carrying my name, I was carrying my soccer boys, my netball and football girls, my family, my supporters and my wife Ayazingca who is my backbone. It meant our rural work was seen on a continental stage.”
“On that stage I was South Africa, and I was rural South Africa,” he said. “I wanted the room to know that leadership also comes from villages.”
When SA Positive News first spoke to Mhesele before the awards, he said the nomination was never about personal recognition but about opening doors for young people in Keiskammahoek. Winning, he says, has only strengthened that commitment.
“The award was a door and now I must hold it open wider.”
“Before, the vision was equipment, a field and dignity. Now its pathways. Through Keep a Girl Child in School for girls and Ikwelo Lityala for boys, we want young people to know that someone from a rural village can be recognized across Africa. If I can, they can too.”
Using sport as a catalyst for social change has always been the center of his work, but the vision has grown beyond playing the field.
“Sport is still the tool,’ he said, “It builds discipline, sisterhood and brotherhood. But now the vision is bigger, we want to connect sport to education, safety and leadership.”
Back home, Mhesele wastes no time putting those lessons into action. Following the awards, he embarked on fundraising and awareness walk from East London towards Keiskammahoek to shine a spotlight on drug abuse, school violence and bullying. Although an injury forced him to end the journey in King William’s Town, he says it strengthened his resolve to continue serving his community.
His organization is now focused on expanding Keep a Girl Child in School by combining dignity packs, mentorship and school attendance support, while Ikwelo Lityala aims to create stronger pathways for boys through coaching, discipline and opportunities to progress through sport.
While the award has opened a new conversation around partnerships and support, Mhesele says the needs on the ground remain significant.
He hopes to secure additional support for sports equipment, coaching resources, sanitary products, toiletries and school essentials to help more children across rural communities.
Reflecting on the journey, Mhesele revealed there was a point when he feared he would not be able to collect his award.
“I almost lost my award because I had no money to fetch it from Ghana,” he said. “I tried, I wanted to quit.”
Instead, he chose to persevere.
“Purpose will test you before it promotes you,” he said. “Purpose is remembering the boys and girls waiting on the field. Tears are part of the story. Keep going. Ubuntu will carry you.”
Want to support?
Mhesele is preparing a Mandela Day outreach initiative, including donations to schools and children’s homes, and is appealing for support in the form of sports equipment, sanitary products, toiletries, school essentials and financial contributions to expand programmes such as Keep a Girl Child in School and Ikwelo Lityala.
Those wishing to support or partner with his work can reach him via his official social media platforms:
Facebook: Zinzie Mngxongo Mhesele/ Thembu Warriors Sport Club
Instagram: Zinziemthembu
TikTok: Zinzie10
By Sinentlahla Mbokwe