Thebe Foundation Trust

What Thebe Foundation Trust does

Thebe Foundation Trust is a South African non-profit foundation established in 2011 and headquartered in Sandton, Johannesburg, that delivers education and community development programmes for previously disadvantaged communities. The foundation operates three core programmes: the Literacy and Numeracy (LitNum) Programme, active since 2013 across 31 primary schools in Mpumalanga's Gert Sibande and Nkangala districts in partnership with the Mpumalanga Department of Education; the Dr EJ Mabuza Scholarship Programme, established in 2016 with 10 South African university partners to fund tuition, accommodation, and wrap-around support for higher-education students; and an Entrepreneurship Programme (since 2010) covering Informal Markets, Enterprise Development, and Supplier Development tracks for SMMEs in Johannesburg townships and beyond. Complementary directories (Graduate Directory and SMME Directory) link alumni and entrepreneurs with employers and customers.

The foundation's revenue model combines donations from Thebe Group companies and institutional donors (eligible for Section 18A tax certificates), dividend income from a wholly-owned investment subsidiary called Thebe Foundation Trust Investments (TFTI, established 2017), and partnership contributions such as Pride Milling's support of the Kroonstad Poverty Alleviation Programme. TFTI holds a 51% controlling stake in Batsumi (a Cape Union Mart joint venture operating retail stores at OR Tambo International Airport and the V&A Waterfront), a 10% stake in HR Ignite (HR and outsourcing), a 1.2% stake in BioTherm Energy (renewable energy), and a 0.5% stake in Enel Green Power RSA, with dividend flow intended to underwrite the foundation's developmental mandate. There is no proprietary technology platform; programmes are delivered through direct human facilitation, school and university partnerships, and event-driven summits (Business Summit, Dr EJ Mabuza Skills and Career Summit, Thebe Annual Outreach Programme). Marketing and beneficiary outreach run through the foundation's website, LinkedIn presence, programme-specific email channels, and partner-led recruitment.

Operationally the foundation is lean, with approximately 10 employees and additional programme-specific contractors, supported by a Board of Directors and a separate TFTI governance structure. Recent leadership additions in 2025 include an Education Programme Manager and an Office Administrator, reinforcing education delivery capacity. The entity is domiciled as a trust in South Africa and is not publicly traded.

Name

Thebe Foundation Trust

Legal name

Thebe Foundation Trust

Website

https://thebefoundation.org.za

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Thebe Foundation Trust is a South African non-profit foundation that delivers literacy, scholarship, and SMME entrepreneurship programmes across Mpumalanga and Gauteng, funded by donations from Thebe Group and dividend income from a wholly-owned investment subsidiary (TFTI).

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Development Foundation

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Community Food Services (624210)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Education Access & Quality (International Development) (BPAGABAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Rural Livelihoods & Economic Empowerment (BPAGABAA), School Feeding & Social Protection Partnerships (Conditional Cash Transfers, etc.) (EDADALAL), Nutrition & Food Security (Global Health) NGOs (HLAJAKAH)

Keywords

• Community education programs
• Literacy numeracy support
• Higher education scholarships
• Small business development
• Poverty alleviation programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Johannesburg

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations from Thebe Group and Partner Institutions: The foundation receives donations from Thebe Group of companies and various institutional donors. Donors receive Section 18A certificates for tax purposes.
2. Investment Dividends: TFTI (Thebe Foundation Trust Investments) generates dividend income from investment portfolio (Batsumi, HR Ignite, BioTherm Energy, Enel) to sustain foundation operations.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Thebe Foundation Trust delivers three core educational and economic development programmes in South Africa: the Literacy and Numeracy (LitNum) Programme for Foundation Phase learners, the Dr EJ Mabuza Scholarship Programme funding university tuition and living costs for disadvantaged students, and the Entrepreneurship Programme offering skills training to SMMEs in Gauteng townships. A Poverty Alleviation Programme distributes monthly food parcels to vulnerable households in Kroonstad. Operations are sustained through donations and investment dividends from a wholly-owned subsidiary (TFTI).

Product overview

Thebe Foundation Trust operates as a non-profit foundation focused on education and community development in South Africa. The organization offers a portfolio of development programmes including the LitNum Programme for basic education, the Dr EJ Mabuza Scholarship for higher education, and an Entrepreneurship Programme for SMME development. A complementary Graduates Directory and SMME Directory provide market access platforms. The Foundation also operates an investment subsidiary (TFTI) to ensure financial sustainability of its developmental mandate.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Literacy and Numeracy Programme (LitNum) A flagship education programme for Foundation Phase (Grades R-4) learners in the Gert-Sibande and Nkangala districts of Mpumalanga, delivering literacy and numeracy support through teacher professional development, resource provisioning, ICT integration in classrooms, and parental involvement. Currently active in 31 primary schools across two cohorts (15 schools in Cohort 1 and 16 schools in Cohort 2).
• Dr EJ Mabuza Scholarship Programme A higher education scholarship programme for South African students from previously disadvantaged communities, covering tuition fees, study materials, accommodation, meal allowance, transport, and psychosocial wellbeing support at ten partner universities (UJ, Wits, UCT, NWU, University of Mpumalanga, Sol-Plaatjie, UP, UFS, UWC, Richfield). Applications are managed via the Aura recruitment system.
• Entrepreneurship Programme An SMME empowerment initiative operating in Johannesburg townships across three categories: Informal Markets Programme, Enterprise Development Programme (SBEP delivered in partnership with the UJ Business School Centre for Entrepreneurship, with UJ-issued certification), and Supplier Development Programme. Provides customised training in financial management, marketing, compliance, and business skills targeting agriculture, business services, and renewable energy sectors.
• Thebe Foundation Trust Investments (TFTI) The wholly-owned investment arm of Thebe Foundation Trust, maintaining stakes in Batsumi (51% JV with Cape Union Mart, clothing retail), HR Ignite (10%, outsourcing), BioTherm Energy (1.2%, renewable energy), and Enel Green Power RSA (0.5%, renewable energy). Dividend income from the portfolio sustains foundation operations.
• SMME Directory An online directory platform connecting SMMEs supported by the foundation's Entrepreneurship Programme with potential customers, covering sectors including agriculture, construction, ICT, energy, and general services.
• Graduates Directory An online platform linking Dr EJ Mabuza Scholarship Programme alumni with potential employers, facilitating job placement and professional development opportunities for graduates.

Quantifiable outcome

• Multiple programme graduates have won business competitions and established successful enterprises
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• University of JohannesburgcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016University partner for Dr EJ Mabuza Scholarship Programme, providing higher education opportunities for academically deserving students from previously disadvantaged communities.
• University of WitwatersrandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016University partner for Dr EJ Mabuza Scholarship Programme, supporting access to quality higher education.
• North-West UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016University partner for Dr EJ Mabuza Scholarship Programme.
• University of MpumalangacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016University partner for Dr EJ Mabuza Scholarship Programme, providing accessible higher education in the region.
• University of Cape TowncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016University partner for Dr EJ Mabuza Scholarship Programme.
• Mpumalanga Department of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Government partner for Literacy and Numeracy Programme. Selection of schools and implementation done through partnership with the department.
• Puku FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to develop and publish literature books in all South African languages, supporting literacy development.
• READ FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Literacy Day donations including books, pencils and erasers towards Mpumalanga Department of Education.
• Cape Union MartcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint venture partner (49%) in Batsumi, operating Cape Union Mart and Old Khaki stores at OR Tambo International Airport and V&A Waterfront. Thebe Foundation Trust holds 51% share.
• Growth FirmminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMentorship provider appointed to coach and guide entrepreneurship programme entrepreneurs alongside the SBEP programme.
• University of Johannesburg Business School Centre for Entrepreneurship (JBSCE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner for Small Business Enrichment Programme. Graduates receive certificates from UJ upon completion.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• JET Education Services: South African non-profit supporting school improvement, teacher development and youth pathways into post-school opportunities. Closely comparable on the education programme delivery model, and notably Thebe's new Education Programme Manager was hired from JET.
• Kagiso Trust: Major South African education and development foundation running scholarship, school support and enterprise programmes. Directly comparable as a non-profit trust funding higher education access, basic education and SMME development in South Africa.
• Tshikululu Social Investments: South African social investment manager administering corporate foundation funds for education, SMME and community programmes. Comparable as a foundation-type entity deploying donor capital across similar verticals with measurement and partner management capabilities.
• Zenex Foundation: South African foundation focused on improving education outcomes, particularly literacy and numeracy in under-resourced schools. Comparable on the LitNum-type basic education intervention model targeting Foundation Phase learners in disadvantaged districts.

Others

• Pride Milling: Corporate sponsor of Thebe's Poverty Alleviation Programme. Included as an adjacent partner/funder comparable in the school feeding and food relief space relevant to Thebe's operations.
• Kagiso Shanduka Trust Fund (later merged entities): Historically a parallel South African education and SMME trust. Referenced as a sector peer given overlapping donor base and beneficiary communities, though corporate structure has evolved.
• Growth Firm: SMME mentorship provider partnered with Thebe's entrepreneurship programme. Comparable as an emerging ecosystem player delivering enterprise development services to township-based SMMEs in South Africa.

Broad incumbents

• Michael & Susan Dell Foundation: Large global education-focused foundation supporting K-12 improvement, college readiness and entrepreneurship in low-income communities. Comparable in operating model (foundation funding schools, scholarships and entrepreneurship) though at much larger scale.
• Discovery Fund: Corporate social investment arm of Discovery Group funding education, health and SMME programmes in South Africa. Comparable as a corporate-backed foundation with multi-vertical social programmes and scholarship funding components.
• Old Mutual Foundation: Corporate foundation of a major South African financial services group supporting education, enterprise development and community upliftment. Comparable as a large corporate-backed foundation with overlapping education and SMME mandates.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/thebe-foundation-trust

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Thebe Foundation Trust