Soul City Institute appoints Phinah Kodisang as CEO

Phinah Kodisang appointed CEO of Soul City Institute effective January 2020

Kodisang, who has 15 years of experience in the field of sexual reproductive health and rights, will replace outgoing CEO Lebogang Ramafoko at the helm in January 2020. Kodisang joined the Soul City Institute in 2015 and has brought a wealth of experience in organisational development, advocacy, and programme and grant management, to her portfolio. Under Kodisang's leadership, the Soul City Institute achieved an A-Rating from the Global Fund for the successful implementation of the grant.

Kodisang has worked previously for organisations such as World Vision South Africa, Ndlovu Care Group, and the Wits Reproductive Health Institute in various positions, which saw her championing strategic and innovative development and management of ground breaking programmes aimed at youth.

Addressing social injustices

Kodisang, who is no stranger to programming for social justice, is an alumnus of the Africa America Institute International Fellowships Programmes (IFP) and through this fellowship she obtained a Master’s Degree in Social Development from the University of Wales (Swansea) in the United Kingdom. Upon completion of her master’s degree, she served as an exco member of the International Fellowship Program Alumni Association (2010-2012) where fellows in South Africa were jointly working together to come up with interventions and programmes that address social injustices in their communities, supported by the Ford Foundation.

Kodisang has participated and contributed to different, national and international panels on HIV, gender-based violence and youth development as a social justice advocate for youth, especially young women.

“Women live in a world that acknowledges that they have fundamental human rights, but which has put systems in place that prevent women from accessing those rights. Patriarchy, sexism, rape and femicide are tools used to control women and disempower them and ultimately take away their freedom.

"I am putting my hand up to be counted among the many feminists who are not going to stand by and watch that happen. I intend to use my voice and the networks that we have established as Soul City to counter anything that inhibits women from enjoying their all their freedoms - political freedom, freedom of opportunity, freedom to access relevant and needed services, freedom to love who they choose, and any other freedoms enshrined in the Constitution,” says Kodisang.