For broadcaster and journalist Clement Manyathela, giving back is not simply about writing a cheque or showing up for a once-off community event. It is about tackling the very gaps he experienced growing up and making sure young people from rural communities have access to opportunities he wishes had been available to him.
Manyathela has officially launched the Clement Manyathela Foundation, a civil society organisation focused on creating meaningful opportunities, supporting communities and helping young people navigate the challenges that can stand between them and their dreams.
At the heart of the foundation is a particularly personal mission: supporting learners in rural and underserved communities through career guidance, mentorship, psychological support, educational resources and access to information about scholarships and further education.
From Vaalbank to the national spotlight
Manyathela’s motivation comes from his own upbringing in Vaalbank, Mpumalanga. Growing up in a rural village, he enjoyed what he describes as a happy childhood, playing with other children and being part of a close community. But as he grew older, he became increasingly aware of the limitations faced by families around him.
Speaking to the University of Pretoria, Manyathela reflected on how the realities of rural life became clearer with age, particularly the sacrifices parents made to ensure their children could attend school, participate in school activities and eventually pursue university education.
The foundation’s website explains that Manyathela personally experienced the absence of career guidance and psychological support, as well as limited access to information about career choices and funding opportunities. Those experiences ultimately became the motivation behind the organisation.
The goal is therefore bigger than providing material assistance. It is about giving young people information, confidence, mentorship and emotional support at a stage when the right intervention can fundamentally alter the direction of their lives.
“I would want the experience to be different”
Speaking at the launch of the foundation, Manyathela explained that two experiences stayed with him after leaving high school and eventually shaped his decision to establish the organisation.
“When I left high school, there were two main things that I experienced that I remember thinking I would want the experience to be different for other learners who are coming after me,” he said.
His vision is rooted in ensuring that young people do not have to make important decisions about their futures without the information or support they need.
The foundation aims to bring career exploration into schools, introduce learners to different professions and connect them with mentors who can provide practical guidance as they make decisions about their education and careers.
But Manyathela also recognises that academic and career development cannot be separated from mental and emotional wellbeing.
The foundation plans to provide access to counselling and psychological support for learners dealing with trauma, family difficulties and other personal challenges, while creating safe spaces where young people can have honest conversations about what they are experiencing.
More than career guidance
While career guidance is a major pillar of the foundation, its work extends beyond telling learners what they can become.
The organisation plans to assist with educational resources, including books, stationery and digital learning tools, while also helping learners and families access information about scholarships, grants and other funding opportunities for higher education.
For learners who may have ambitions but do not know where to begin, the foundation intends to bridge that information gap.
Its programmes include a Career Pathways Programme, psychological support initiatives, educational resource distribution and scholarship and funding awareness programmes. It also envisages partnerships with schools, community organisations and other stakeholders to broaden its reach.
In essence, the foundation is built around three principles: people, opportunity and impact.
A journalist turning influence into impact
Long before he became the face behind a foundation, Manyathela was building a career in journalism and broadcasting.
After graduating from the University of Pretoria with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism in 2013, he began building his career while still finding his feet in the industry. He worked as a weekend reporter at Pretoria News and had a stint at SABC Online before joining Power FM as a junior newsroom producer. He subsequently moved into field reporting before working in television and later returning to radio.
His career has included work with Eyewitness News, e.tv, eNCA, Newzroom Afrika and Power FM, while his profile has grown significantly through The Clement Manyathela Show on Radio 702. He has also established himself as an interviewer, facilitator and moderator capable of handling conversations with politicians, business leaders and other influential public figures.
His journalism has frequently placed him at the centre of important national conversations, particularly around politics and issues affecting South Africans.
That experience of giving people a platform now informs the work of his foundation.
The organisation describes Manyathela as someone whose career has been shaped by creating spaces for important conversations and keeping people and their experiences at the centre.
“If it’s two learners…”
For Manyathela, success will not necessarily be measured by how big the foundation becomes, but by whether it changes even a small number of lives.
“If it’s two learners who are impacted by the work that we do… [that] would be a dream come true,” he said at the launch.
It is a modest measure of success for someone with a national profile, but perhaps one that says the most about the foundation’s philosophy.
The Clement Manyathela Foundation is ultimately about taking the lessons of one man’s journey and using them to open doors for others.
From a rural village in Mpumalanga to some of South Africa’s biggest radio and television platforms, Manyathela has experienced what access, education and opportunity can make possible. Through the foundation, he is now looking back at where his journey began and attempting to make the road ahead a little clearer for the next generation.
As the foundation puts it, its purpose is simple: “Opportunity that reaches people.”
And for the young learner sitting in a rural classroom, unsure of what comes after matric, that opportunity could be the difference between simply having a dream and knowing how to pursue it.
