Pretoria, South Africa — Former First Lady Zanele Mbeki has been awarded a prestigious honorary doctorate by the University of Pretoria, recognizing her decades-long dedication to building an inclusive society and advancing the rights of women, particularly in rural communities.
The award, conferred on Wednesday, celebrates Mbeki’s transformative contributions to social justice, gender equality, and human rights across South Africa. A trained social worker, Mbeki has spent her life working at the intersection of policy, advocacy, and grassroots empowerment.
A Legacy of Empowerment
Known for her unwavering commitment to uplifting marginalized groups, Zanele Mbeki has focused on empowering rural women through education, economic independence, and social inclusion initiatives. Her work has touched thousands of lives — from rural cooperatives and micro-finance programs to policy advocacy at the national level.
“She has helped rewrite the narrative for women in South Africa,” said the university’s Vice-Chancellor during the ceremony. “Her leadership is rooted in compassion, and her legacy is one of lasting, meaningful change.”
A Trailblazer in Her Own Right
While often recognised in relation to her husband, former President Thabo Mbeki, Zanele Mbeki has forged her own powerful path — founding the Women’s Development Bank and contributing to numerous initiatives aimed at reducing poverty and promoting gender equity.
Her influence stretches far beyond national borders, with many international development organizations citing her work as a model for sustainable, community-led change.
Inspiring Future Generations
In receiving the honorary doctorate, Mbeki thanked the university and used the moment to encourage young South Africans to “dream beyond limitations” and to “carry the torch for a more just world.”
The University of Pretoria hailed her as a “catalyst for change” and a symbol of the power of compassion-driven leadership.
