Mahadi Buthelezi – A Catholic Action Woman

Mahadi Buthelezi is involved in many faith-based and social activities, on top of being an entrepreneur and family woman. She spoke to Daluxolo Moloantoa about her life and faith.

Seize the day — and know that God is in charge! That is a motto by which Johannesburg businesswoman and Catholic activist Mahadi Buthelezi lives. “Carpe Diem! And always remember that everything starts with and ends with God,” she said. “Pray when you’re feeling sad or scared, and pray when you’re joyful.”

The Soweto-born chief executive officer of a real estate company wears a number of hats: family woman, entrepreneur, media practitioner, humanitarian, women’s rights campaigner, and Catholic activist in various areas of activity and ministry. The latest addition to Mahadi’s extensive CV is her role as president of the newly-formed Women’s Forum of the South African Council of Churches (SACC). It is one of the number of positions through which she aims to play her part in uplifting our society. “I’m driven by a desire to work for a world free of gender-based violence, poverty, inequality and racism,” the 50-year-old told The Southern Cross.

Born the youngest of six children at Soweto’s famous Baragwanath Hospital, Mahadi grew up in Dube Village in Soweto where she attended Our Lady of Fatima church. Fr Buti Tlhagale OMI, now archbishop of Johannesburg, was one of her parish priests there. She did her primary schooling in Dube before attending Immaculata Secondary High in Diepkloof. She matriculated at Holy Rosary Convent in Edenvale.

Her father, the late Simon “Sy” Khumalo, was a well-known boxing trainer who had the likes of world champion Baby Jake Matlala under his wings; her mother Lerato was a fashion designer. This afforded Mahadi an opportunity to see the world through different eyes. The business-bug bit at an early age. Apart from watching her mother run a fashion design business whose clientele included some of Soweto’s most prominent denizens, family relations also played a part in Mahadi’s development towards entrepreneurship. Her family was close to a highly successful entrepreneurial family in her neighbourhood, the Maponyas, owners of the Maponya Mall. “I literally grew up in their household,” Mahadi recalled.

A family woman

Though the last-born child, Mahadi said she was not spoiled at all. “My father was very strict. He used to say that he had no boy or girl in the house, so we all did our chores equally. He even taught me how to mow the lawn and change a tyre. My mother is an impeccably neat individual whose home had to be spick and span. Having parents like mine left me with no choice but to become an all-rounder and a perfectionist,” she laughed.

After high school, Mahadi went to work, while also pursuing her studies in marketing, business management, and fashion design. She later took up further courses in real estate and media relations. That training stood her in good stead for future pursuits. Today, the mother of four — Mpumelelo (28), Nqobile (24), Bongiwe (22) and Thando (19) — is the group chief executive officer of the RB Property Group, a business she runs with her husband of 27 years, Robert. “Our company specialises in property development, consulting and sales. I oversee the various departmental duties, from finance, engineering, strategy, research, project management and other operations,” she explained.

The communications background led to work with various media platforms, including stints on the now-defunct Tribute magazine and the Catholic broadcaster Radio Veritas. She and husband Rob also wrote a series of family-oriented columns in The Southern Cross, when it was still a newspaper, and Mahadi has also written for the now defunct Catholic website Spotlight.Africa.

The parishioner of the church of the Resurrection in Bryanston, Johannesburg, takes on her role as a social activist with dedication and passion. “I believe that I am part of a bigger community, society and the world. Prayer and my Catholic faith give me strength. I’m emboldened to participate in a range of communities, organisations, and initiatives to improve the lives of others and the world,” she said.

 Activities in the Church

Mahadi has been serving in a number of roles in this regard, especially in the Catholic Church. “As part of the Southern African Catholics Bishops’ Conference’s Marriage and Family Life Office Working Group, I contribute to any form of liturgical campaign and celebration that may need to be focused on, be it with the expertise of marriage and family, or any other tasks we may be requested to contribute to,” she said.

Another role within the Church community is that of chief executive officer of the Catholic Business Forum (CBF). The forum comprises entrepreneurs who strive to apply the principles of the Catholic faith to their daily lives in business. “We seek to strengthen our Catholic faith by sharing professional experiences, fostering good business ethics, and supporting each other in integrating our faith and work based on Catholic values, especially the Catholic Social Teachings. Furthermore, the forum aims to promote social responsibility, and community service as business people,” Mahadi explained.

Her passion extends to her alma mater, Immaculata Secondary. “I am trying to build a network of past students in order to keep the school sustained,” Mahadi said. She also serves on the board of the Moral Regeneration Movement, which is led by Fr Smangaliso Mkhatshwa.

The empowerment of women is a priority issue for Mahadi. She is the lead organiser for the Catholic Church of the ecumenical Women’s World Day of Prayer in South Africa, and the secretary for the Southern African World Union of Catholic Women Organisation. In addition, she is a member of UN Women SA and the Department of Women, Youth and People with Disabilities’ Generation Equality National Task Team, and a  member of the national task team of the faith-based Organisation Action Against Gender-based Violence and Femicide.

“Women and the youth are the most marginalised sections of our society. This is where my heart is. If women and youth are not invited to the table, I try to help them bring their camping chairs to the table. Serious matters, such as gender-based violence, murder, inequality and so on, affect women and youth the most. Justice and empowering others in this area is something that I am very passionate about,” she said.

A princess among women

On top of all that, Mahadi is also a “princess”. In November 2020 she was crowned second princess in the Mrs Gauteng pageant. “It was an interesting time for me. The reason I actually entered the pageant was to shatter a glass ceiling, because I was turning 49 that December. The Ms Gauteng pageant is different from others. It inspires and motivates women while ploughing back to society, which is a major driving force for me,” she said. The pageant describes itself as a platform for married, divorced or widowed women aged between 24 and 58, and as a “philanthropic pageant, not only a beauty or modelling competition”.

Her reign as a Mrs Gauteng princess covered the second year of the Covid pandemic, a time which Mahadi described as difficult, with the deaths of friends and family, the isolation of lockdown, and especially as a mother who worries about the wellbeing of her children. But it has also been a time for introspection in which she deepened her already active faith.

And it always comes back to her Catholic faith. It plays a crucial role in her daily life, her family life, and her various pursuits. “My faith keeps me grounded and watchful of each of my actions in dealing with my own issues and with others around me, especially around respect for my family and those whom I engage with in my work or in my contribution to society. Coming from a family that is deeply rooted in the faith, whenever we feel challenged, things like a visit to Ngome also come as a help and great getaway” from the stresses of daily life, she said.

And, Mahadi added, her faith sustains her from the beginning of each day: “Saying the rosary is the first thing I do when I start my day.”

This article was published in the February 2022 issue of The Southern Cross magazine