ALUMNI: Thami Ledwaba &
Sharon Kamau-Ledwaba (2023)
VENTURE: Tshelela Africa
Tshelela Africa
Johannesburg, South Africa
Tshelela Africa is a property investment and development company focused on addressing the critical need for affordable, high-quality homes for the middle-income segment in South Africa, which is underserved by traditional housing markets. Our mission is to bridge the housing affordability gap by offering creative solutions for accessing sustainable living spaces that foster community, personal development, and economic empowerment. Through innovative design, strategic partnerships, and a holistic approach to community building, we ensure that our developments are more than just houses—they are thriving homes and communities that help reverse societal brokenness and offer hope.
Thami Ledwaba
2024 Fellow
co-founder & director | Tshelela Africa
Thami Ledwaba is the co-founder and CEO of Tshelela Africa Group, an investment holding company that acquires, develops and expands businesses across diverse sector in Africa. With extensive experience in public policy, he has advised CEOs, cabinet ministers, and ambassadors in Southern Africa across education, social, and economic policy. His leadership has facilitated over $500 million in investments in sectors like private equity, real estate, and public-private partnerships across South and East Africa. Previously, he served as a Director at Business Leadership South Africa, an independent association comprised of the leaders of some of South Africa’s leading corporations and as a board member on the Council on Higher Education’s HEQC Board which advises the Minister of Higher Education. Thami holds a Master of Philosophy in Public Policy & Administration from the University of Cape Town.
Sharon Kamau-Ledwaba
2024 Fellow
co-founder & director | Tshelela Africa
Sharon Kamau-Ledwaba is the co-founder and COO of Tshelela Africa, along with her husband, Thami Ledwaba. She is a multi-hyphenate professional with experience building sustainable businesses and consulting on violence against women, enterprise and supplier development issues. She specialises in creating ecosystems that provide entrepreneurs within the formal and informal economy access to local and global value chains. She holds a Master’s in Philosophy in Social Justice and is passionate about seeing how business can be used for restoration and empowerment. She is also the founder of The Rested Place, a Christian ministry dedicated to empowering women to live from a place of rest in Jesus in every aspect of their lives.