Johannesburg, South Africa – South African entrepreneur and philanthropist Rali Mampeule has been recognised as one of Africa’s leading philanthropists, following his strong performance in the African Philanthropist of the Year 2026 category of the African Leadership Magazine Persons of the Year Awards.
Mampeule was one of only four Africans nominated continent-wide, and notably, the only South African shortlisted for the prestigious title. He ultimately placed second, trailing the winner by just 2.78%, in one of the closest results in the award’s history.
This recognition reflects the scale, depth and consistency of Mampeule’s impact across South Africa over the past several years, as he continues to champion development, youth empowerment, affordable housing innovation, and global health access.
Standing Among Africa’s Exceptional Leaders
The African Leadership Magazine Persons of the Year Awards celebrate Africans whose contributions are shaping the continent’s development, progress and global influence.
This year’s programme featured a distinguished cohort of leaders across multiple categories. South African nominees included:
● Mandisa Maya, Chief Justice of South Africa — African Female Leader of the Year
● Aaron Motsoaledi, Minister of Health — African Public Health Champion of the Year
● Phuthuma Nhleko, Chairman and Co-Founder of Phembani Group — African Industrialist of the Year
Other continental leaders recognised across various categories included:
● President Duma Gideon Boko of Botswana
● President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah of Namibia
A Track Record of Impact in South Africa
Over the past five years, Rali Mampeule has emerged as one of South Africa’s most influential philanthropists, with work spanning global health, education, rural development, youth empowerment, and infrastructure innovation.
Through the Mampeule Foundation, he has supported tertiary education, community upliftment, and sustainable development. As founding donor of the Global Surgery Foundation (GSF), he contributes to advancing equitable access to surgical care worldwide.
Rali’s philanthropic work spans multiple sectors, including:
● South African Housing and Infrastructure Fund (SAHIF): Founded by Rali, SAHIF has delivered more than 68,000 much-needed housing stands, enabling thousands of South Africans to build homes and secure a place they can truly call their own.
● MetroFibre Networx: Recognising the demand for home connectivity during the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the rise of remote work, Rali invested in MetroFibre Networx, which now provides high-speed internet to over 510,000 homes.
● COVID-19 Emergency Housing: In 2020, through SAHIF, Rali built and donated 72 emergency housing units to the Ikemeleng community in Roodepoort, providing safe accommodation for over 300 people relocated from a nearby farm.
● Educational Bursaries: Through the Mampeule Foundation, Rali has awarded more than 90 study bursaries to students across South Africa.
● 3D-Printed Housing Innovation: He partnered with the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSI) and the University of Johannesburg to develop South Africa’s first 3D-printed house, a milestone in affordable housing innovation.
● Youth-Focused Programmes: Rali supports initiatives such as Green Riders — aimed at creating 50,000 green jobs — the Supreme Fight League (SFL), and several other programmes empowering young South Africans.
In addition to his philanthropic work, Rali Mampeule serves as Chairman of MIT Investments, Chairman of the UJ SMaCT Research Centre, and CEO of the African Housing and Infrastructure Fund (AHIF). He is a member of the Forbes Real Estate Council, a Top 100 Property Leader (SAIBPP, 2025), and winner of the SAIBPP Socio-Economic Impact Award (2019). He also holds an AMDP qualification from Harvard University.
A Remarkable Showing for South Africa
While Mampeule narrowly missed the top spot, his performance stands as a powerful achievement in its own right. As the only South African nominated in the category, he finished as the highest-ranked South African philanthropist and one of the top philanthropists on the continent.
South Africa rallied behind him in an extraordinary way and the overwhelming public support he received demonstrates the significant trust placed in his leadership and the transformative role he continues to play in South Africa’s development landscape.
For South Africa, his result underscores the country’s leadership in social impact, innovation and community development.