Education Is The Frontline Of Inequality, Business Must Show Up

Education Is the Frontline of Inequality, Business Must Show Up, Insights by Ntombizone Feni, Group CEO of 21^st Century

In South Africa, inequality isn’t abstract. It shows up in schools that do more with less, in families stretched thin, and in young people who carry adult responsibilities long before they ever enter the job market. This is what inspires our agency and proactiveness, to directly build the future workforce from the ground up, one learner and one school at a time.

Over the last seven years, 21^st Century has experienced significant growth, evolving from one entity into a group company with five growing business streams. With that progress came a bigger responsibility, to reinvest intentionally in the society that has shaped us. The 21^st Century Foundation is our commitment to turning belief into action, and ensuring our success is measured not only by our commercial outcomes, but by the lives we help expand in our communities.

At the centre of our work is “Education Uplifting Ikasi”, our flagship program at Fons Luminis Secondary School in Diepkloof, Soweto. The programme provides sustained academic tutoring and coaching in high-impact subjects including Maths, Maths Literacy, Accounting and Natural Science, alongside structured support that builds confidence, consistency and aspiration. This program is implemented in partnership with Bright Star Academy, a Diepkloof-based organisation founded by Simangaliso Mashiloane, a Chemical Engineering graduate whose community-rooted leadership and commitment to academic excellence have been instrumental in turning consistent effort into measurable progress for our learners.

This year, we hosted our annual CEO Awards Ceremony at the 21^st Century offices, welcoming 15 outstanding Grade 10 learners, top academic performers and leadership standouts who began this journey with us in Grade 8. We seated them as guests of honour in our big boardroom, the very space where our biggest decisions are debated, tested, and signed off. On that day, we did not only celebrate their results, we showed them what it means to literally have a seat at the table, because the future we are building must include them in rooms of influence, not just in classrooms of potential.

One of the most memorable moments came from learner representative Bongiwe Ntlhe, who captured the significance of long-term belief with clarity and warmth. Addressing me during her speech, she said, “our CEO, Ms Ntombizone Feni… from today, you are also our CEO.” In one simple line, she expressed what purposeful partnerships are meant to feel like, close, human, and anchored in shared ownership of the future.

She also reflected on what exposure can unlock, joking that the office tour gave them a glimpse of “our future workplace.” That line drew smiles for a reason, it reflects the shift we aim to create, from seeing success as something distant, to seeing it as something reachable.

We were equally proud to celebrate Bophelo Vilakazi, the top Grade 10 achiever in the school and our programme across Maths, Life Science and Accounting, a standout example of what sustained support, learner grit and consistent teaching partnerships can unlock.

But meaningful social impact requires more than a ceremony or a certificate. It requires leadership that understands context. Many learners in underserved school systems face complex realities, including under-resourced homes, inconsistent adult support, and pressures that no teenager should carry alone. And yet, they keep showing up. They keep pushing. They keep choosing challenging subjects, the longer route, the higher standard.

This is why we believe South Africa does not need more organisations that simply meet compliance requirements. We need leaders who contribute with intention, using what they already have, skills, influence, resources, networks and time.

The 21^st Century Foundation invites organisations and individuals to partner with us by adopting a learner, adopting a grade, and offering even an hour to expose young people to career pathways, entrepreneurship, innovation and life skills they may not otherwise access.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to our employees and leadership for embracing and advancing this vision, their commitment, time, and belief continue to turn our purpose into measurable impact for beyond profit, and for South Africa’s future workforce.

Total Words: 677