15 / 32
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.
1 3
M U T A L U M N I M A G A Z I N E