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Bright is

talking the talk

walking the walk

and

Bright Hlongwane was never an ordinary student. Right from his early days at MUT, he never

underestimated the power within himself. Always out and about advocating for the wellness of his fellow

students, Bright would knock on any door, regardless of hierarchy, if it was to benefit his peers.

B

right is a selfless advocate for youth empowerment

and a strong believer in human dignity. During the

Durban floods in 2017, he rolled up his sleeves

and went from door to door checking up on fellow

students residing in rented accommodation near campus.

They were hard hit by the floods and many lost almost

everything. It was not just a fact-finding exercise; Bright rang

the alarm bells and sent funding proposals to corporates to

come to the aid of the students. This was just one of many

programmes that Bright drove during his time as an MUT

student, even though he never contested for formal student

leadership positions. Both then and now, his efforts have

always been less about himself than the young people of

South Africa.

The voice of Bright Hlongwane has been heard on many

international platforms in recent years, including an historic

occasion when Bright addressed the United Nations

Economic and Social Council Youth Forum in 2019, as well

as recently at the World Youth Forum in Egypt. He is loud and

may never be silenced in his belief that youth participation

in economic decision-making could be the solution for

government to curb youth unemployment. This is a message

he declares through his famous mantra: “Nothing for us,

without us.”

At home Bright has built a strong personal brand of a young

boy born and bred in Umlazi Township, with strong views

on youth entrepreneurship. He is not afraid to challenge

the status quo and has explored all avenues to reach out to

decision-makers to take the voice of youth into consideration.

Bright has written an open letter to President Cyril Ramaphosa

and begs the ANC NEC to “give young people a chance at

leading.” He has spoken at many other forums including

radio and television interviews, carrying the message that

“the youth is capable, give them a chance.”

Delivering a keynote address at the 2021 Youth Business

Indaba, Bright called for effective implementation of

transformative entrepreneurship interventions in South Africa

to address the challenges of chronic youth unemployment,

inequality and poverty. “There is a need to start creating

employment for the youth through entrepreneurial activity

because the problem of youth unemployment is frightening.

The whole country is sitting on a keg of gun powder which

might explode anytime. To avert this calamity, government

must start rolling out a plan to create jobs immediately,”

Bright said.

When he was just 22, Bright founded Isimangaliso Group

(Pty) Ltd, a diverse company with interests in branding, media

and marketing communications, transportation, logistics and

construction. He is also secretary-general of Youth in Business

South Africa (YIBSA), a non-profit organisation whose sole

purpose is acceleration of youth employment. Within a space

of just eight years, Bright has grown in leaps and bounds as

an entrepreneur, public speaker and youth activist.

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