Sibongile (commonly known as Bongi) Mkhabela, is a social justice activist and a trained social worker. She has extensive experience in Public Policy, Community and Institution building, Philanthropy, Fundraising and Developmental Grant-making. She is the former Chief Executive Officer of the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund where she served for 21 years and built a significant endowment, helping to ensure the fund's sustainability. She championed, alongside Mr. Mandela and Mrs. Graça Machel, the establishment of the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital, the fifth children's hospital of its kind in the African continent.

A fellow of both the Rockefeller Center in Italy and Duke University School of Public Policy, North Carolina USA, Bongi is also a recipient of the prestigious National Order of Luthuli (Silver) awarded by the President of South Africa, Mr Cyril Ramaphosa, in 2018. She was also recently recognised by the French government with a Knight of the French National Order of Merit (Chevalier de l’Ordre national du Mérite) for her work in social justice. She holds an honorary Doctorate in Philosophy awarded by the Nelson Mandela University in 2019 (NMU).