Meet our #LLASpotlight for March: Uyanda Mbuli the fearless advocate whose 28-year journey in philanthropy has evolved into a powerful mission of inclusion and accessibility for South Africa’s Deaf community.
With unwavering commitment through her Uyanda Mbuli Youth Empowerment Project, she has transformed from creating education and employment opportunities for marginalized youth to becoming a pioneering voice for the 4.4 million Deaf South Africans systematically excluded from society’s progress.
In our latest interview, she shares her profound journey into Deaf advocacy—a calling that found her seven years ago—and her strategic approach to embedding inclusion into corporate structures while pushing for South African Sign Language recognition as an official language.
She also reveals how her faith grounds her mission, why profit and purpose are interconnected rather than conflicting, and her vision for a truly inclusive South Africa where Deaf citizens have equal access to education, healthcare, employment, and full social participation.
Read the full interview below and discover how this ecosystem leader is transforming corporate social investment from compliance exercises into drivers of authentic, lasting change.
Your work centers on advocating for the 4.4 million Deaf people in South Africa. What personal experiences or encounters first connected you to this community and ignited your passion for this cause?
For 28 years, I have been deeply committed to philanthropy through the Uyanda Mbuli Youth Empowerment Project, creating education and employment opportunities for marginalized youth and empowering them to build brighter futures.
My journey into Deaf advocacy was not something I planned—it was a calling that found me. Over seven years ago, I was introduced to the systemic exclusion faced by the Deaf community across education, healthcare, security, and employment. These barriers deeply moved me—not just as policy gaps but as fundamental violations of human dignity and equal opportunity.
Despite South Africa’s post-1994 progress in redressing racial segregation, the Deaf community remained excluded from these transformation plans. The realization that South African Sign Language (SASL) was not officially recognized—effectively shutting out millions from full participation in society—solidified my commitment to using my influence, network, and resources to drive systemic change.
As both a business leader and social impact champion, how do you navigate the sometimes-conflicting priorities between profit and purpose in your work with the Uyanda Mbuli Corporation?
For me, profit and purpose are not conflicting forces—they are interconnected. Through the Uyanda Mbuli Corporation, I have developed sustainable business models that align commercial success with meaningful impact.
Corporate Social Investment (CSI) should never be about charity—it should be about long-term shared value where businesses and communities thrive together. Every project we take on is mission-driven, ensuring that impact is not treated as a cost center but as a strategic driver of sustainable growth. I also work with companies to design acceleration strategies that streamline social impact into their business objectives, transforming them into cohesive, measurable goals.
What barriers or misconceptions about Deaf communities have you found most challenging to address in your advocacy work, and how have you approached overcoming them?
The most persistent misconceptions I’ve encountered include:
• The belief that Deaf individuals are incapable or less intelligent—completely false. Some of the most innovative and strategic thinkers I’ve worked with are Deaf.
• The assumption that sign language is optional—when in reality, it is a fundamental human right and a necessary tool for communication, inclusion, and even safety.
• The perception that inclusion is too expensive or complex—when, in reality, simple policy changes can drastically improve accessibility.
To combat these misconceptions, I focus on policy advocacy, corporate education, and grassroots engagement. I work with policymakers to push for SASL recognition, partner with businesses to create Deaf-friendly workplaces, and use storytelling to shift public perception.
Throughout your career building bridges between business and social impact, what has been your most fulfilling achievement that demonstrates the power of this connection?
One of my most fulfilling achievements has been ensuring that my full salary from SANDA is directed toward Deaf community programs, enabling critical initiatives such as skills development to be fully funded.
Additionally, my company has played a key role in advising Netball South Africa on its legacy program strategy and supporting corporate partners in designing inclusive social impact initiatives. These efforts have not only professionalized operations but also ensured that sports development serves as a sustainable vehicle for social change.
How has your understanding of effective leadership evolved through your work with marginalized communities, particularly the Deaf community?
True leadership is about service. Working with marginalized communities has reinforced my belief in the power of listening—ensuring that solutions are community-driven rather than imposed from the top down.
My leadership has evolved from directive to facilitative, ensuring that marginalized groups have platforms, funding, and opportunities to lead their own advocacy. I believe in building ecosystems where government, business, and civil society collaborate strategically to drive sustainable change.
You specialize in corporate social investment (CSI) and stakeholder engagement. What innovative approaches have you developed to ensure these efforts create authentic, lasting change?
Social Facilitation Strategies: Ensuring that infrastructure projects integrate meaningful community participation while maintaining key deliverables.
• Embedding CSI into Core Business Strategy: Shifting CSI from a compliance exercise to a driver of long-term business value.
• Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs): Aligning corporate, government, and non-profit efforts to maximize social impact.
• Inclusion-First Models: Making SASL training and accessibility a standard in corporate social responsibility efforts.
• Tracking Measurable Impact: Moving beyond donation-based metrics to focus on long-term systemic transformation.
When you’re not in your professional role, what personal practices or activities help you stay grounded and connected to your mission?
I am intentional about everything I do from the minute I wake up until I fall asleep. Advocacy is in my blood, and therefore, I prioritize spirituality, intentional reflection, and giving back. My faith in Christ plays a fundamental role in my advocacy—it renews my strength and focus daily.
I also stay grounded by spending time with grassroots community members—this reminds me that real change is about people, not just policies. Authentic social impact is the ability to reduce the problem while growth takes place, not teaching society to learn to adjust to the problem while growth takes place.
What moment in your journey as an advocate made you realize the true scale and importance of your work for Deaf communities in South Africa?
Witnessing Deaf children struggle in classrooms without SASL interpretation was a defining moment for me. In some cases, teachers were unaware that these children were Deaf and misinterpreted their struggles as behavioural issues. The reality was that they were being left behind—not because they lacked intelligence, but because the system was never designed for them.
That realization reinforced my commitment to ecosystem leadership—bridging the gaps in education, policy, and technology to create an inclusive society. I am currently working to build strategic alliances with technology partners who can integrate Deaf students into mainstream education through innovative communication solutions.
As someone working to empower marginalized groups, how do you approach the delicate balance between amplifying voices and speaking on behalf of communities?
My role is to create platforms for the community to speak for themselves. I never assume to know what’s best—I engage directly with Deaf leaders, educators, and families to co-create solutions.
I am the Global Advocate for a community I love so dearly, my advocacy is rooted in partnership and solidarity, never assumptions. I acknowledge that while I understand the plight of Deaf people, I am not Deaf myself. My role is to ensure that their needs and rights are prioritized at every level so they can speak for themselves.
How do you measure success in your work beyond traditional metrics, particularly when it comes to social impact and advocacy for the Deaf community?
For me, success isn’t just about numbers; it’s about impact:
- Legislative change—such as the recognition of SASL as an official language.
- Economic empowerment—ensuring Deaf individuals have access to sustainable employment.
- Cultural transformation—embedding sign language into mainstream business and social environments.
Impact is about reducing barriers, not just adjusting to them. My goal is to shift mindsets, create lasting policy change, and ensure that every intervention contributes to a more inclusive, equitable society.
What role do you believe corporate South Africa should play in advancing rights and opportunities for people with disabilities, particularly the Deaf community?
Corporate South Africa must move beyond compliance and performative diversity efforts to real inclusion by:
• Embedding accessibility and integration—ensuring that all individuals, regardless of ability, can fully participate in workplaces.
• Meaningful participation—giving marginalized individuals a voice, agency, and influence in workplace policies and decision-making.
• Funding skills development for people with disabilities—breaking the cycle of exclusion through targeted investment.
• Adopting SASL training as part of corporate DEI strategies—ensuring Deaf employees, customers, and stakeholders are fully integrated into the business landscape.
The ultimate goal is systemic and sustainable change—while BBBEE (Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment), employment equity and gender diversity targets have helped shift representation at a surface level Corporate South Africa is still far from cracking it.
As a woman leading in spaces that intersect business, advocacy, and policy, what unique perspective do you bring to addressing systemic inequities?
Being a Black woman leader, I have learned to be highly strategic and intentional, navigating the intersections of resilience, representation, and responsibility while leading with purpose. Every achievement I make is not just personal—it is a collective step toward transformation, ensuring that marginalized voices, especially Black women and the Deaf community, are fully included in decision-making spaces.
My journey has been shaped by a deep understanding of systemic barriers, having occupied spaces where we have historically been excluded. I have learned how to navigate power structures, drive real impact, and clear pathways for those who follow. I do not lead alone—I carry the legacy of those who came before me and the responsibility to uplift those who will come after.
Looking toward the future, what specific change for Deaf communities would you most like to see achieved in your lifetime, and what steps are you taking to make that vision a reality?
I want to see a fully inclusive South Africa where Deaf children and adults have equal access to education, healthcare, employment, and full social participation.
To achieve this, I am:
- Pushing for full SASL integration in education.
- Expanding Deaf-inclusive employment initiatives.
- Mobilizing corporate and government funding for systemic change.
This isn’t just a dream—it’s my mission.
