BRIEF RESUME: DR C THANDI NDLOVU - Unisa

DR C THANDI NDLOVU
PERSONAL
THANDI NDLOVU was born in Soweto and schooled in the sprawling townships Orlando High
School. She obtained academic excellence and participated in various student organisations,
including the Student’s Christian Movement – of which she was a Founder Member.
At the height of the Soweto Student’s Uprising in 1976 she was serving as the Administrative
Secretary of the Student’s Representative Council (SRC) at the University of Fort Hare. She
was forced to abandon her Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree as a direct result of the
repression that followed.
She spent the next couple of years in training within the ranks of Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) –
the African National Congress (ANC) Military Wing.
In 1976 she was part of the contingent of MK cadres who were posted to Novo Catengue a
military training camp in the South of Angola. She served within MK as a Senior Political
Commissioner, charged with running a Literacy and Education Programme - among the onethousand
odd new MK recruits. She also served as a Commander. Although at that point not
medically trained, she was appointed a Medical Officer, working under the guidance of the
Chief Medical Officer responsible for overseeing the health needs of the soldiers.
In 1978 she was sent to the then Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) for further
military training.
Upon completion she was sent in 1979 to the ANC headquarters in Lusaka, served the ANC
in various capacities, including Administrative Secretary of the Women’s Section.
ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS
In 1984 she enrolled with the University of Zambia, completing a BSc (Human Biology) and
MBchB degrees.
Upon returning to South Africa after the unbanning of the political movements and the return
of exiles, she ran a private medical practice in Orange Farms, an informal settlement South of
Johannesburg, for five years.
BUSINESS ACHIEVEMENTS

What began as a hobby saw her create the company Motheo Construction in 1996. The
efforts of the Motheo Group as Developers, Contractors and Project Managers has resulted in
the delivery of over 40,000 serviced sites and over 52 ,000 affordable housing units,
translating into over R1.3 billion worth of affordable housing stock throughout the country.
Under her leadership the Motheo Housing Group was awarded the Prestigious Institute for
Housing Developer of the Year Award for 2000. Dr Ndlovu is Executive Chairman of the
Motheo Group.
Her skills and experience in putting together professional teams and creating sustainable
enterprises has seen her create a number of small businesses in the construction and related
industries.
COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION
Dr. Ndlovu was one of the founder members of the South African Women in Construction
(SAWIC) in 1996, and has served on the National SAWIC Board. She is the current
National President of the Association. She is also a member of Women for Housing (SA).
Dr Ndlovu was elected Deputy Chairperson of the South African Women in Dialogue (SAWID)
in 2002. In that capacity she facilitated the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)/South
Africa Women’s Peace Dialogue in March 2003. She also co-facilitated the South
Africa/Burundi Women’s Peace Dialogue in 2004. These activities are Civil Society Initiatives
aimed at fostering relationships between women across all political, social, religious and
economic groupings in South Africa to foster peace in our region and enhance Pan-African
Women’s Solidarity.
As a result of the above activities, she has a wide network of contacts in both business and
politics throughout the Southern African region and the continent as a whole.
She sits on various corporate boards, including the board of Truworths International, has
served both the Councils of the Private Security Regulatory Authority (PSIRA) and the
Councilor The Playhouse Company – KwaZulu-Natal. She recently stepped down from the
Board of the Businesswomen’s Association (BWA) after completing her term of office.
Thandi is a keen golfer, a member at Oubaai Golf Club in George, plays social golf with 24K
Ladies’ Golf Society and West Orlando Golf Society off a 20 handicap.
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