Brand South Africa successfully hosted the Play Your Part Engagement & Onboarding Session at the Sandton Hotel, Johannesburg, on 25 March 2025. The session brought together both new and existing Play Your Part Ambassadors, reaffirming their role in advancing positive change and fostering active citizenship across South Africa.

The event served as an essential platform to introduce attendees and Play Your Part ambassadors to the founding principles of Play Your Part , alignment of Play Your Part to national priorities, while outlining the key support functions available to them as ambassadors. It was an inspiring day filled with insightful discussions, shared experiences, and renewed commitment to nation-building.

A Vision for a Better South Africa

Sithembile Ndaba, General Manager of Marketing at Brand South Africa, delivered a powerful keynote address, setting the tone for the session. She emphasised that Play Your Part is more than just a programme—it is a movement:

“Play Your Part is not a campaign because campaigns have start and end dates; we believe that what we do is a movement, building a cultural way of embracing our achievement and addressing our challenges. We have been able to create an army of ambassadors that have been able to help us build the South Africa we want. They have been able to actively play their part and support our quest of creating a nation brand. I am hoping that we will be able to create a society that allows all of us to be better, a community that is healed. Collectively, we have a lot of work to do in building the South Africa we all want for ourselves and those coming behind us.”

Her words resonated deeply with attendees, reinforcing the shared responsibility of creating a thriving and united nation.

Notable Speakers Driving Change

The session featured impactful talks from several influential speakers who are actively shaping South Africa’s socio-economic landscape:

• Kass Naidoo (Founder of GSport4Girls) – Advocating for gender equality in sports and empowering women in the industry.
• Glenda Setshedi (Pathfinders) – Highlighting grassroots initiatives that drive community upliftment and social impact.
• Bulelani Balabala (Founder of Township Entrepreneurship Alliance – TEA) – Sharing insights on supporting and nurturing entrepreneurship in township communities.

These thought leaders provided invaluable perspectives, inspiring ambassadors to leverage their platforms for meaningful change.

Celebrating Excellence: Surprise Acknowledgement Awards

A special highlight of the event was the surprise recognition of outstanding ambassadors who have demonstrated exceptional dedication and impact:

• Pathfinders received the “Rising Star” award for their growing influence in community upliftment.
• Kass Naidoo was honored as the “Most Active” ambassador for her unwavering commitment to promoting social change.
• Bulelani Balabala was awarded “Ambassador of the Year” in recognition of his exemplary leadership and dedication to empowering township entrepreneurs.

These awards underscored the vital contributions of Play Your Part ambassadors and celebrated their ongoing efforts to drive meaningful change.

Looking Ahead

The Play Your Part Engagement & Onboarding Session reaffirmed the programme’s commitment to strengthening South Africa’s nation brand through active citizenship. By equipping ambassadors with the knowledge, support, and inspiration needed to drive change, Brand South Africa continues to foster a network of changemakers dedicated to a brighter future.

With continued collaboration and unwavering dedication, the Play Your Part movement will keep inspiring positive action, one ambassador at a time. The call to action is simple “ be part of a movement that will impact our society, our people in a positive way.”