Zandile Mqwathi

Zandile Mqwathi is Community Programmes Director at Life Choices, a Cape Flats-based NPO in Cape Town, where she leads programmes spanning youth leadership, health, family support, and safe schools. With 16+ years across community development, health equity, GBV programming, and social and behaviour change communication, she has held roles at DG Murray Trust, Pact South Africa, and Drama for Life at Wits University. She holds an MA in Drama Therapy from Wits and is a fellow of the Tekano Atlantic Fellowship, the Atlantic Institute Global Fellowship, and WomenLift Health’s 2025 Eastern & Southern Africa cohort. She founded Uhambo Lwam, a drama therapy pilot using isiXhosa storytelling traditions with learners in Samora Machel. In July 2026, she was invited to the Hawkwood Centre for Future Thinking (UK) as part of the AFSEE Senior Fellows Creative Communications Programme, delivering a session on ritual, drama therapy, and creative writing. Her work sits at the intersection of storytelling, healing, and community development.