- Soweto uprising leader Seth Mazibuko and legal trailblazer Zola Mbatha will receive top honours at the SA Heroes Awards.
- Mazibuko is recognised for mentoring youth and preserving the legacy of 1976 through the June 16 Foundation.
- Mbatha is celebrated for her national legal clinics and media-based legal education platform.
Seth Mazibuko was just 16 when authorities arrested him for leading student protests against the use of Afrikaans in Soweto schools.
Born in Orlando, Soweto, on 15 June 1960, Mazibuko became the youngest member of the South African Students’ Organisation, helping to plan the historic June 16, 1976, uprising. His activism led to 18 months in solitary confinement at the Fort Prison and a seven-year sentence on Robben Island, where he earned his B.Ed degree.
On 28 April 1976, he led a boycott at Orlando West Secondary School, now Phefeni Secondary, protesting the forced use of Afrikaans as a medium of instruction. Nearly five decades later, he continues to shape South Africa’s future through the June 16 Foundation, mentoring youth and advocating for education, economic participation, and social cohesion.
“I’m humbled and grateful to be honoured with this award,” Mazibuko said. “In preserving the legacy of 1976, I work with young people through the June 16 Foundation. The foundation also tackles issues affecting young people by focusing on education, economic participation, and social cohesion.”
Mazibuko will receive the Leader of Influence Award at the South African Heroes Awards 2025, a ceremony dedicated to recognising unsung champions who uplift their communities.
I look forward to enjoying this journey, says Zola Mbatha
Zola Thabile Mbatha, an admitted attorney of the High Court, will be honoured as Rights Activist of the Year. With over a decade of experience as a fiduciary specialist and regulatory compliance expert, Mbatha has built a national movement for legal literacy through her consultancy, Legacy Yezibaya, and her community legal clinics.
Her work targets families and elders who have long been left out of legal processes that affect their estates and legacies. “I’m grateful to the South African Heroes Awards for this amazing and empowering honour,” Mbatha said. “I cannot express with enough words my gratitude for this and look forward to enjoying this journey.”
Mbatha’s impact spans media, fintech, and public speaking platforms, where she simplifies complex legal matters for everyday South Africans. Her commentary on the estate of the late deputy president David “DD” Mabuza and her appearances on radio, television, and YouTube have made her a trusted voice in fiduciary law.
Celebrating South Africa’s unsung heroes
The 7th South African Heroes Awards will take place on 29 November 2025 at M1 Studios in Auckland Park, Johannesburg. Hosted by media personality Samora Mangesi and actress-singer Gabisile Tshabalala, the ceremony will feature performances by Brenden Praise, Khanyo Maphumulo, Gab & Mo, Ndo Dlakadla, and Lungi Shezi.
Founder Amanda Matshaka said, “The vision for the awards is to celebrate people who are doing extraordinary things for their communities. We celebrate unsung heroes who go above and beyond to improve the lives of those around them in their communities.”
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