Ahmed Kathrada Foundation

What Ahmed Kathrada Foundation does

The Ahmed Kathrada Foundation is an independent, non-partisan nonprofit civil society organization established in 2008 in Lenasia, Gauteng, South Africa, to uphold and promote the values embodied by anti-apartheid activist Ahmed Kathrada, a Rivonia Trialist who spent 26 years imprisoned on Robben Island. The foundation operates through four programmatic pillars: Advancing Non-Racialism, Preserving Liberation History, Strengthening and Defending Democracy, and Youth Leadership and Activism. It delivers services directly through a network of 60 youth clubs engaging more than 4,280 members across Gauteng, alongside civic education workshops, academic tutoring, anti-corruption training, digital skills programs, and entrepreneurship summits, all provided free of charge to beneficiaries.

Its primary beneficiaries are youth aged 14-25, secondary school learners at partner schools (including Lawley Thuto Lefa Secondary School, Winfred Nomzamo Secondary School, and Qoqa Secondary School), and civil society partner organizations. Key named partnerships include ABSA (Entrepreneurship Summit), Corruption Watch and GIZ (anti-corruption workshops), the Gauteng Department of Education (school programming), Show Racism the Red Card UK (anti-racism in sport), and UNESCO (Global Alliance Against Racism consultations). The foundation also convenes the Anti-Racism Network South Africa (ARNSA) and is a member of the Civil Society Working Group on State Capture.

The foundation's revenue model is donation-based, with income derived from individual donations, annual fundraising banquets (tables at R50,000, seats at R5,000 at the Sandton Convention Centre), and partnership or institutional funding. All programmatic services to beneficiaries are offered free of charge; there is no commercial pricing model. The organization operates with 18 employees and is governed by a board including Derek Hanekom, Mandla Nkomfe, and Naweed Hassan, with Neeshan Balton serving as Executive Director.

Name

Ahmed Kathrada Foundation

Legal name

Ahmed Kathrada Foundation

Website

https://kathradafoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Ahmed Kathrada Foundation is an independent South African nonprofit established in 2008 to advance non-racialism and democratic values, serving more than 4,280 youth across 60 youth clubs in Gauteng through civic education, academic support, and anti-corruption programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Civil Society Nonprofit Foundation

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Civic and Social Organizations (81341)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Human Rights & Anti-Discrimination Organizations (BPAGAFAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth Leadership, Civic Education & Service-Learning Nonprofits (BPAGADAI), Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAD), Civil Society Strengthening & Civic Space (BPADAGAD), NGO/Nonprofit Education Programs & Service Delivery (EDADALAC)

Keywords

• Civic society advocacy
• Youth leadership development
• Anti-racism programs
• Democratic strengthening
• Liberation history education

Headquarters

HQ city

Lenasia

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: The foundation relies on donations, annual fundraising banquets, and membership fees to fund its programs. The 2025 Annual Fundraising Banquet was held at the Sandton Convention Centre with tables priced at R50,000 and individual seats at R5,000.
2. Event Revenue: Revenue generated from signature events such as the annual banquet, which also serves to showcase the foundation's work and advance its mission of social justice, transformative education, and community upliftment.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Ahmed Kathrada Foundation is a nonprofit civil society organization that delivers youth leadership development, civic education, anti-racism advocacy, and democratic strengthening programs in South Africa. Its core activities include operating 60 youth clubs across Gauteng with over 4,280 members, running anti-corruption and civic education workshops, providing academic tutoring to Grade 11-12 learners, coordinating the annual Anti-Racism Week, and convening civil society coalitions on accountability and governance. Programs and services are offered free of charge to beneficiaries.

Product overview

The Ahmed Kathrada Foundation is a non-profit advocacy organization that does not offer commercial products or technology services. Its activities center on four programmatic pillars: Advancing Non-Racialism through anti-racism interventions and dialogue programs; Youth Leadership and Activism via its YLAP program with youth clubs across Gauteng; Preserving Liberation History through archival work, publications, and educational initiatives; and Strengthening and Defending Democracy through civic education and coalition-building. Key named initiatives include the annual Anti-Racism Week campaign, the Billy and Elsie Nair Learner Support Programme, the #YouthLivesMatter campaign, Youth Summits and Youth Camps, and the annual fundraising banquet. The Foundation also publishes calendars, newsletters, and research papers on race, identity, and South African history.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Youth Leadership & Activism Programme (YLAP) Comprehensive youth empowerment initiative operating youth clubs across Gauteng communities, providing civic education, entrepreneurship support, academic tutoring, digital skills training, anti-corruption workshops, and leadership development for young people aged 14-25. The program engages more than 4,280 youth club members across 60 youth clubs.
• Billy and Elsie Nair Learner Support Programme Academic support initiative providing tutoring in Mathematics, Mathematical Literacy, and Physical Science to Grade 11-12 learners at partner schools including Lawley Thuto Lefa Secondary School, Winfred Nomzamo Secondary School, and Qoqa Secondary School.
• Amrit Bowan Laloo Chiba Postgraduate Scholarship

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 4,280 youth club members engaged through 60 youth clubs across Gauteng
• +3 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Show Racism the Red Card (UK)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 July 2026Joint statement with Show Racism the Red Card (UK) condemning escalating racism in international football and calling for FIFA to take decisive action. The partnership issued a joint press release addressing racism during the 2026 FIFA World Cup and calling for mandatory sanctions, independent oversight mechanisms, and strengthened protections for players.
• Coalition for Tunisia Political PrisonersminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 June 2026The Ahmed Kathrada Foundation joined 23 other South African organizations including Amnesty International South Africa, Afro-Middle East Centre, Islamic Medical Association, and others in calling for the immediate release of political prisoners in Tunisia, including Sheikh Rached Ghannouchi.
• UNESCOcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 December 2025Participation in the Consultation Meeting on the Global Alliance Against Racism and Discriminations at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris (10-11 December 2025), contributing South Africa's perspective and experience to global anti-racism initiatives.
• Civil Society Working Group on State Capture (CSWG)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2018The Civil Society Working Group on State Capture was established in November 2018 to ensure accountability for economic crimes, advocate against the looting of public funds, and engage directly with the Zondo Commission. Key members include the Helen Suzman Foundation, Freedom Under Law, Corruption Watch, Section27, and the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation among more than 20 civil society organizations.
• ABSAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with ABSA for the Entrepreneurship Summit where 500 young people from 58 youth club areas participated, exposing them to opportunities for innovation, economic participation, and entrepreneurial development.
• Corruption Watch and GIZcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnti-corruption initiatives delivered in partnership with Corruption Watch and GIZ, including 30 workshops held in 30 communities empowering young people to identify corruption, understand accountability mechanisms, and become advocates for integrity.
• Anti-Racism Network South Africa (ARNSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Anti-Racism Network South Africa is convened by the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation and observes Anti-Racism Week annually from March 14 to 21, concluding on Human Rights Day.
• Gauteng Department of Education (Sebibeng East District)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with the Gauteng Department of Education to take learners to see productions during Anti-Racism Week, teaching youth about belonging and identity through theatrical performances.
• Defend Our DemocracyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDefend Our Democracy joined the Youth Camp 2025 to lead sessions on anti-corruption and whistleblowing, emphasizing the bravery required to speak out and the importance of safeguarding those who do.
• Ahmed Kathrada LenmedminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDigital skills and computer training partnership extending digital literacy opportunities to more than 50 young people through the Ahmed Kathrada Lenmed partnership.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Nelson Mandela Foundation: South African legacy foundation focused on social justice, dialogue, and memory work; comparable to the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation in mission, donor base, and programmatic pillars around legacy, advocacy, and youth empowerment.
• Section27: South African public interest law and human rights organization; comparable as a CSWG partner and as a civil society organization engaged in accountability and rights advocacy.
• Desmond & Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation: Legacy foundation promoting the values of Archbishop Tutu, including justice, reconciliation, and human rights; closely comparable in operating model, anti-apartheid heritage, and South African focus.
• Amnesty International South Africa: Human rights advocacy organization and joint signatory with the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation; comparable in rights-based advocacy, coalition work, and international human rights engagement.
• Institute for Justice and Reconciliation (IJR): South African nonprofit working on transitional justice, reconciliation, and anti-racism research; comparable in anti-racism advocacy and democratic strengthening programmatic focus.
• Helen Suzman Foundation: Civil society organization promoting constitutional democracy, accountability, and the rule of law; comparable as a partner in the CSWG on State Capture and as a non-profit advocacy peer in South Africa.
• Corruption Watch: South African anti-corruption civil society organization; direct partner of the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation and comparable in its community-based anti-corruption mobilization model.
• Sonke Gender Justice: South African human rights NGO promoting gender equality and social justice; comparable as a civil society advocacy organization focused on rights and community mobilization.

Broad incumbents

• South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC): Constitutional body mandated to promote and protect human rights in South Africa; a broader, government-mandated incumbent operating in the same human rights and anti-discrimination space.

Regional players

• Show Racism the Red Card (UK): UK-based anti-racism charity operating in a different geography; comparable as a joint advocacy partner on international football racism and broader anti-racism campaign work.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubekathradafoundation.org/youtube
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ahmed-kathrada-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Ahmed Kathrada Foundation