The Board of the Gender-based Violence and Femicide Response Fund (the Fund) is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Tandi Nzimande as Fund CEO, effective 1 June 2025.
Her appointment marks a new chapter at the Fund following the departure of Ms. Sazini Mojapelo, who concluded her tenure at the end of last year to pursue another career opportunity.
Tandi takes over from Ms Zanele Ngwepe, who stepped in as Interim CEO following Sazini’s departure. “We would like to thank Zanele for her leadership, dedication, hard work, and invaluable contribution in her interim role over the past six months. We look forward to continuing our work with her as Head of Operations and Finance of the Fund,” says Ms. Faith Khanyile, Board Chairperson of the Fund.
Tandi, a chartered accountant, launched her career in 1997 as a corporate finance adviser at Deutsche Securities, the brokerage and investment banking arm of Deutsche Bank AG.
After that, she acquired and ran a small business in the postal and courier sector for four years. During this time, she joined WDB Investment Holdings (WDBIH), a women’s empowerment company, as CFO, where she invested 14 years of her career. She was appointed CFO at business model research and development firm Chapter One Innovation Brokerage in 2018, where she played a key role in launching high-impact, listable organisational systems at scale.
In October 2020, Tandi was appointed the second CEO of the Solidarity Fund, just as the realisation dawned that COVID-19 would be with us for a longer time than many had expected.
Tandi has served on several listed and unlisted entities’ boards, as well as non-profit organisations and foundations, including the Hollard Foundation, Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator, and the FirstRand Empowerment Foundation. She currently serves on the boards of King Price Limited and Primedia Group. She also contributes her expertise to the Investment Committee of Tamela Mezzanine Fund, a prominent black-owned and managed investment company.
“Tandi brings a rare blend of financial acumen and deep commitment to social impact. Her distinguished career as a chartered accountant in leading financial institutions, combined with extensive experience in development and empowerment, uniquely positions her to steer the Fund as we face shifting donor priorities and a decline in development funding,” says Ms. Khanyile.
“We are confident that, under Tandi’s expert guidance, we are poised to strengthen the Fund’s role as a driving force in the fight against GBVF, ensuring meaningful impact across society. Her leadership will be critical in safeguarding our progress and reimagining our future,” Ms. Khanyile concludes.