Unmute Dance Company is reshaping the meaning of inclusion, one performance at a time. By bringing together artists of mixed abilities, the company harnesses contemporary and integrated dance to shift perceptions of disability and create spaces where expression, talent, and collaboration are truly celebrated. Through initiatives such as Schools Outreach and the ArtsAbility Festival, Unmute is engaging thousands of young people and communities, fostering confidence and dismantling stigma in the spaces where it is most deeply rooted.
With the continued support of the FirstRand Foundation, this important work is expanding meaningful pathways for inclusion that can be seen, felt and experienced in everyday life.
For too long, students with disabilities at South African universities have faced barriers that made learning and campus life harder. Lecture halls and libraries were often not accessible, exam concessions were inconsistent, and many institutions had no dedicated disability units to provide support. This has left students feeling excluded and without the tools they needed to succeed.
The Access4ALL Project was launched to change this. With support from the FirstRand Foundation, the University of Cape Town and the Higher Education Disability Services Association (HEDSA) worked with universities to build Disability Rights Units, train staff, and create clear plans for inclusion. Through workshops, capacity-building modules, and benchmarking visits, institutions learned how to remove barriers and make campuses safer, and more inclusive. Access4ALL is helping universities move from short-term fixes to long-term transformation, so that students and staff with disabilities can thrive and feel they truly belong.
The University of Cape Town convened the formal launch of the Access4ALL initiative in strategic partnership with the FirstRand Foundation, the Higher Education Disability Services Association (HEDSA), and institutional representatives from Rhodes University, Sol Plaatje University, Mangosuthu University of Technology, and the University of Zululand.
Access4ALL represents a strategic commitment to the transformation of higher education into a fully inclusive environment for all students. The initiative responds directly to the Department of Higher Education and Training’s Strategic Policy Framework on Disability for the Post-School Education and Training System (2018), which identified systemic fragmentation in disability rights governance and the absence of dedicated disability service units across numerous institutions, underscoring the imperative for coordinated action to advance equity, accessibility, and institutional inclusion.
Since its inception, the initiative has delivered significant milestones, including the completion of a comprehensive national situational analysis, the onboarding of four partner universities equipped with the resources necessary for effective participation, and the development of an extensive suite of training modules encompassing disability advocacy and universal design principles. Collectively, these efforts are enabling participating institutions to embed inclusive practices within their governance structures, physical infrastructure, and broader campus operations.
We’re pleased to be ranked #2 in both the corporate and non-profit categories in the 2025 Trialogue CSI Rankings.
More than a milestone, this recognition reflects the strength of our partnerships and a shared commitment to driving meaningful, lasting change.
From supporting education and financial inclusion to tackling gender-based violence, our focus remains on creating impact that goes beyond the ranking itself.
#Trialogue2026
Meet the speakers shaping the conversation at this year’s Trialogue Business in Society Conference.
Contributing to the panel discussion titled “Mobilising leadership, employees and partners around a common purpose,” Ms Colleen Magner, Director of Innovation and Practice at Reos Partners, is a scenario-planning practitioner who has led multi-stakeholder processes in over 20 countries.
Her work in navigating complex systems offers a unique lens on how organisations can collaborate more effectively to unlock collective outcomes.
#Trialogue2026
Meet the speakers shaping the conversation at this year’s Trialogue Business in Society Conference.
Contributing to the panel discussion titled “Mobilising leadership, employees and partners around a common purpose,” Dr Manthiba Phalane, Director of Public-Private Partnerships at the Civilian Secretariat for Police Service, focuses on building partnerships that support inclusive crime prevention initiatives.
Her experience across policy, research and stakeholder engagement brings an important perspective on how cross-sector collaboration can drive sustainable, real-world results. #Trialogue2026
Meet the speakers shaping the conversation at this year’s Trialogue Business in Society Conference.
Contributing to the panel discussion titled “Mobilising leadership, employees and partners around a common purpose,” Dr Elmarie Pereira, CEO of Memeza Shout, is a GBV activist and community safety leader with extensive experience in programme development and social impact.
Through her work leading national initiatives aligned to GBVF and partnering across sectors, she brings a powerful perspective on how community voices can shape solutions and drive meaningful, lasting change. #Trialogue2026
Meet the speakers shaping the conversation at this year’s Trialogue Business in Society Conference.
Contributing to the panel discussion titled “Mobilising leadership, employees and partners around a common purpose,” Ms Zibu Nqala, CEO of Points of Presence at FNB, brings deep experience in transformation, digital innovation and customer strategy.
Her leadership journey offers valuable insight into how organisations can mobilise teams and embed purpose in a way that drives real, measurable outcomes. #Trialogue2026
Meet the speakers shaping the conversation at this year’s Trialogue Business in Society Conference.
Ms Kone Gugushe, Head of Social Investing at the FirstRand, will share how the FirstRand Foundations bring their social impact strategy to life through stakeholder engagement and the inclusion of diverse voices.
She will explore the role of leadership in setting the direction and enabling alignment, as well as how employees are mobilised beyond traditional volunteering, contributing skills, systems and decision-making to drive meaningful, real-world outcomes.
#Trialogue2026
Ms Zandile Mangazi’s commitment to agriculture was established from an early age, having worked alongside her mother in eZingwenya, Mtunzini, where farming served as the family’s primary livelihood. This formative experience laid the foundation for a sustained dedication to the agricultural sector. She currently serves as the manager of Engeyethu Cooperative, which specialises in market gardening, beekeeping, and nursery production.
A pivotal milestone in Ms Mangazi’s professional development came in 2023, when she completed training through Siyazisiza Trust, with funding from the FirstRand Empowerment Foundation. Through this programme, she acquired competencies in operational management, production planning, and cooperative governance. Ms Mangazi now supplies her community with fresh organic vegetables, accessible seedlings, and raw honey, contributing meaningfully to local health and nutritional outcomes.
Over the next five years, Ms Mangazi intends to scale the cooperative’s operations, mentor emerging young farmers, and strengthen local food systems demonstrating that agriculture serves not merely as a means of subsistence, but as a vehicle for sustained socio-economic empowerment.
Simphiwe, Thembinkosi and Linda Fani joined the Mohair Empowerment Trust (MET) based in Doornrivier Farm in Somerset East, Eastern Cape in 2014 as emerging farmers and are now leading producers in the mohair industry. The brothers grew up caring for their father’s cattle, learning the fundamentals of livestock farming from a young age. They began with a small flock of Angora goats and have expanded to approximately 2000 goats which produce more than two tons of mohair annually. Their growth has been underpinned by disciplined financial management, relentless hard work, and a commitment to continuous learning through training, industry exposure, and international engagement.
The partnership between the FirstRand Empowerment Foundation (FREF) and Mohair Empowerment Trust with additional support from the Department of Land Reform has enabled the brothers to scale their operations, improve the genetic quality of their herd, diversify into cattle and sheep whilst creating empowerment opportunities within communities across the Eastern Cape.
Their impact extends beyond South Africa. In 2024, Simphiwe Fani represented MET at a textile conference in California, sharing their journey and gaining valuable international insights into the global mohair industry. The Fani Brothers’ story is a testament to the future of ethical and sustainable mohair farming, building resilience, creating opportunity, and driving empowerment for communities across the Eastern Cape.
Every day, thousands of mothers and children rely on the public healthcare system for essential and often urgent care. As a key facility serving Johannesburg South and surrounding communities, the hospital supports a large patient population, many of whom have historically had to be referred elsewhere for MRI scans, often facing long wait times for critical diagnostics.
The FirstRand Empowerment Foundation and the SPIRE Fund supported the introduction of on-site MRI capability at the hospital. This addition strengthens the hospital’s ability to provide timely, accurate diagnoses, improving patient care, reducing delays, and enhancing outcomes for mothers and children.
For many patients, this represents more than access to technology, it enables earlier intervention, better-informed treatment, and greater continuity of care. It is a meaningful step in strengthening public healthcare and expanding access to essential diagnostic services for the communities the hospital serves.
