Takalani (Taki) Netshitenzhe

Takalani (Taki) Netshitenzhe is a pioneer of socio-economic transformation through the use of ICTs who believes and demonstrates that ICTs are an enabler and tool for development. She is the Chief Officer of Corporate Affairs in Vodacom Group, Executive Director of Vodacom South Africa and Chairperson of the Vodacom Foundation. Taki passionately fosters integrated Corporate Social Investment anchored through the use of ICTs to promote digital literacy for children, youth, learners, teachers, and women in South Africa’s under-privileged and under-served communities; and contribution to the fight against gender-based violence using ICTs, under the slogan “Connect for Good” in order to promote inclusion for all. Through her passion for education, in the past year, Taki introduced an education ecosystem that includes, adoption and renovation of Early Childhood Development Centres with tablets and data, renovation of computer centers for Schools of Excellence and introducing decent ablution facilities through the eradication of pit latrines and introduction of water bore holes in order to restore the dignity of the learners in these education facilities across the country.  She is also pioneering digital literacy for women farmers and for the victims of gender-based violence in the government shelters.

 

Taki is an admitted Advocate of the High Court of South Africa who holds an LLB; a Higher Diploma in Company Law; a BJuris;a Master’s Degree in Security Studies; a Post Graduate Certificate in Cyber Law Cum Laude; and lastly she also holds an Executive Education Certificate in Cybersecurity from Harvard Kennedy School of Government. Taki spent 20 years in government mainly as a law writer, legal and policy advisor, cybersecurity head in the security cluster; and Ambassador of the Republic of South Africa to Hungary and Croatia. She is a recipient of the 2012 Hungarian Eotvos (ELTE) University medal and certificate for relentlessly promoting academic and cultural collaboration and deepening bilateral relations between South Africa and Hungary. She was the 2007 Intelligence Services Woman of the Year for meritorious contribution to the South African intelligence dispensation. She is the Read to Lead Ambassador for the Department of Basic Education.