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Monday 09:00 - 15:30 Tuesday 09:00 - 15:30 Wednesday 09:00 - 15:30 Thursday 09:00 - 15:30 Friday 09:00 - 15:30

Make A Difference Leadership Foundation

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Make A Difference Leadership Foundation

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Make A Difference Leadership Foundation was founded in 2003 by Francois Pienaar and focuses on leader

Since the inception of MAD Leadership Foundation in 2003, Founder and Chairman, Francois Pienaar has had an inspiring vision to provide educational access to scholars with leadership potential but face economic and other barriers through an individualised and personal approach. Our vision is to ensure that young South Africans with academic and leadership potential are not held back by the inequality of opportunities in education in South Africa. We achieve this through a comprehensive scholarship programme where we provide support and development opportunities to our learners. Through the comprehensive, personal and long-term support we offer, we develop an alumnus of MAD Leadership Foundation Fellows who will invest back into South Africa. Our fellows are a powerful force for positive change in their unique way and leaders in their own right. As part of our comprehensive scholarship programme, we focus on the leadership development of our scholars. Our Leadership Learning Model is built on three pillars: Leadership of Self, Leadership of Others, and Leadership in Society. As of 2021, we currently have over 300 scholars on our scholarship programme.

03/11/2026

Connecting people. Sharing ideas. Inspiring change.

A lovely evening with our MAD family ahead of the One Young World Summit in Cape Town this week.

Joining us for dinner were our alums Chairman and Board Member - Spencer, Council members - Sizwe, Nikki and Virusha, along with alums David and Danei, scholar Kutlwano, Nerine Pienaar and Karien Winter.

We are proud to see so many members of our MAD community involved in this year's Summit:

Francois Pienaar, founder of MAD Leadership Foundation, will participate in Friday's panel discussion.

Shudufhadzo Musida, MAD USA Board member and One Young World Counsellor, will co-host the Opening Ceremony and contribute to the Summit programme.

Danei, David, Nikki and Virusha will be joining the international gathering of young leaders along with Kutlwano who will also be presenting his social equity project.

For MAD, opportunities like One Young World are important because they connect young people to new ideas, networks and opportunities to make a difference.

We look forward to an inspiring week and are proud to see our MAD community contributing to these important conversations.

23/10/2026

MAD Alums: Our Superpower ✨ | Moeketsi John Mashibini

The true impact of MAD is not only measured by the opportunities it creates, but by the lives those opportunities shape, and the difference our alums go on to make.

For Moeketsi Mashibini, MAD’s impact has been profound and lasting. Growing up in Johannesburg, he joined MAD in 2014, attended Jeppe High School for Boys and went on to study at the University of Cape Town. Today, he is an Audit Senior at Deloitte in Cape Town.

Along the way, MAD provided more than educational opportunities. Through mentorship, encouragement and a community that believed in his potential, Moeketsi developed a deeper understanding of leadership, resilience and the responsibility to give back.

Now, he is putting those lessons into action.

Through Deloitte facilitation sessions, Moeketsi has returned to support MAD scholars, sharing insights from his own journey through university and into the professional world. Drawing on his experience, he encourages scholars to look beyond their circumstances, pursue their ambitions and recognise the possibilities available to them.

For Moeketsi, giving back is a full-circle moment: being part of a community that once invested in him, and now helping to invest in the next generation.

As he reflects, MAD has shaped not only what he has achieved, but also the kind of person and leader he aspires to become. He believes our experiences, knowledge and opportunities should be used to create possibilities for others.

That is the superpower of our MAD alums. They carry the impact forward, turning the support they received into encouragement, guidance and opportunity for those who follow.

We are proud of Moeketsi and grateful for the role he continues to play in empowering future leaders.

16/10/2026

Alums Are MAD’s Superpower! Kgomotso’s Story of Impact 🙌🏼🎓

From a Grade 7 girl who dreamed of building a hotel for dogs to a conservation scientist pursuing her PhD, Kgomotso’s journey is a powerful reminder of what can happen when potential is nurtured and a community stands behind it.

Through MAD, she found her voice, developed the confidence to advocate for herself and built connections that opened doors to opportunities she once could only imagine.

Today, she is not only advancing conservation research through her PhD, but also mentoring the next generation and helping create opportunities for aspiring conservation professionals. Her story shows us that MAD’s impact doesn’t end when a scholar graduates. It grows as alums share their knowledge, open doors for others and become the mentors and leaders they once needed themselves.

One opportunity can change a life. One connected community can change generations.

09/10/2026

Watch Tshiamo’s video on leadership in action and be inspired by the change young people can create.

On 29 and 30 September, learners and students joined our MAD Leadership Online Forum Workshops on “My Social Impact Project: From Plan to Action” to share ideas, track progress and build resilience in overcoming barriers.

From book and sanitary pad drives, tutoring and sports clubs to career guidance apps and job-readiness workshops, scholars are turning their ideas into action in their communities. Many have already begun their projects, while others are refining their plans and finding ways to balance project work with their studies and other commitments.

We’re encouraged by the growing ownership, energy and commitment shown in the sessions and by those who plan to continue their projects beyond this year. Every step forward counts.

30/09/2026

“What I will do is … be as compassionate with my patients as possible and I will help people grow and be a support for them as they continue their journeys in life.”

Some of the greatest things we receive in life cannot be repaid. They can only be passed on. For Reece, the love, care and support he received from his parents have shaped the kind of physiotherapist he hopes to become: compassionate, supportive and committed to helping others grow.

The MAD Leadership Journey Series shares the real experiences of MAD Scholars as they navigate challenges, discover their strengths and grow into the leaders they have the potential to become. Each story connects to one or more of MAD’s eight Leadership competencies, from perseverance and self-discipline to courage, adaptability, citizenship and paying it forward.

Together, these stories bring the Leadership Journey to life, showing that leadership is not a destination, but a journey of becoming.

30/09/2026

What a way to finish the day with the 21st Annual MAD UK Golf Classic Banquet!

After a brilliant day of golf, we headed to the beautiful Pennyhill Park, part of Exclusive Collection, for the 21st MAD UK Banquet & Auction and it certainly didn’t disappoint.

A sold-out room, beautiful surroundings, great food, plenty of laughter and some very competitive bidding! 🥂

A huge thank you to our auction partners for helping make the auction such a success, and to our main sponsors Enstar Group, Exclusive Collection, De Grendel wines and Ridgeview W**e for their incredible support.

Most of all, thank you to everyone who joined us, donated, bid, sponsored and supported the MAD Leadership Foundation. Your generosity helps us give young South Africans with academic and leadership potential the quality education, support and opportunities they need to fulfil their potential.

It was a very special evening, and we’re incredibly grateful to everyone who made it happen.

Save the date for next year – 2 September 2027.

We’ll be back at Pennyhill Park and hope you’ll join us for another unforgettable MAD evening.

25/09/2026

What a day!

Perfect weather, a fantastic course and a great group of people coming together for the 21st MAD UK Golf Classic at Bearwood Lakes Golf Club.

There was plenty of good golf, a bit of healthy competition and lots of laughs along the way – but most importantly, everyone was there to support a cause that really matters.

A huge thank you to everyone who played, sponsored, supported and helped make the day such a success. We’re incredibly grateful for your generosity and continued support of MADLeadershipFoundation.

We were delighted to have rugby legends Francois Pienaar, Beast Mtawarira, Keith Wood, Hayden Smith, Michael Lynagh, Owen Farrell and Ben Earl join us for the golf.

What a line-up!

Golf Results

Winning 4-Ball: Kemah Capital

Runners-Up: MAD Team One – Founder, Francois Pienaar and the Stent-Torriani family

Best Individual: Ian Gilland

Nearest to the Pin: #3 – Alistair Hargreaves & #14 – Ryan Higgins

Longest Drive: Derek Kindercliff-Jones

And a special thank you to all our partners who helped make such a memorable day possible.

Main Sponsors
EnstarGroup
ExclusiveCollection

Supporting Sponsors
RidgeviewW**e and DENZA.

A huge thank you to everyone involved for making the 21st MAD UK Golf Classic such a fantastic day of golf, friendship, fun and fundraising.

We’ll be doing it all again next year.
Save the date – 2 September 2027. ⛳️

Same great cause, same fantastic company. We hope to see you there!

24/09/2026

Happy Heritage Day from the MAD family! 🇿🇦💚

Our heritage connects us to where we come from and reminds us of the values we carry forward.

For MAD, the spirit of Ubuntu and the legacy of making a difference are part of that heritage. From London, Nomfundo reflects on this legacy while standing beside Nelson Mandela’s statue, before our alums share their Heritage Day wishes in South Africa’s different official languages.

Like Ubuntu, the MAD spirit is about recognising our connection to others and using our own journey to make a difference. Wherever in the world our MAD alums may be, they remain connected by a shared sense of community, purpose and belonging.

23/09/2026

💚🤗 Over £80 000 raised at the Heart-Held Icons Auction!

A very special evening in London, and one we’re still thinking about.

Thanks to the generosity of our Icons, artists, sponsors, guests, bidders and friends of MAD, just over £80,000 has been raised for Make A Difference Leadership Foundation.

Our MC, Stephane Pienaar, put the meaning behind Heart-Held Icons into words beautifully:

“The heart itself is indicative of the care MAD is committed to. The hands holding it are yours, everyone here supporting that effort.”

That really captures what the evening was about. Every contribution, every bid and every person who showed up helped create opportunities for young South Africans with the potential to become future academic and community leaders.

A standout moment of the evening was seeing the signed jersey from South Africa’s three Rugby World Cup-winning captains become the top-performing lot.

A huge thank you to Ranmore Fund Management, The May Fair Hotel and De Grendel W**es for supporting the event, and to everyone who gave their time, energy and generosity.

Thank you for being part of it.

22/09/2026

“Courage isn't the absence of self-doubt, but it's choosing to continue despite it.”

Starting university surrounded by incredibly capable people made Leila question whether she truly belonged. But instead of letting self-doubt hold her back, she chose to stay consistent, seek support and keep going. For Leila, courage means continuing even when you doubt yourself.

The MAD Leadership Journey Series shares the real experiences of MAD Scholars as they navigate challenges, discover their strengths and grow into the leaders they have the potential to become. Each story connects to one or more of MAD’s eight Leadership competencies, from perseverance and self-discipline to courage, adaptability, citizenship and paying it forward.

Together, these stories bring the Leadership Journey to life, showing that leadership is not a destination, but a journey of becoming.

Address

Bellville South
7530

Opening Hours

Monday	09:00 - 15:30
Tuesday	09:00 - 15:30
Wednesday	09:00 - 15:30
Thursday	09:00 - 15:30
Friday	09:00 - 15:30

Website

https://madleadership.org/

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