Springbok great Bryan Habana has been announced as the new Chairman of the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation South Africa. He is taking the baton from founding Chair, Morné Du Plessis, whose steady leadership for the past 22 years has seen Laureus SA become the blueprint for sustainable social investment practices in South Africa.
Over the course of the past year, Du Plessis has been instrumental in preparing the Sport for Development organisation for this changing of the guard, and following an independently supervised election process, Habana and Deputy Chairperson Deshun Deysel were announced as the Foundation’s new leadership at their recent AGM.
“I am deeply honoured to have been selected as Chairman of Laureus Sport for Good South Africa,” said Habana. “This organisation has long been a beacon of hope and positive change, using the power of sport to transform lives and communities the world over.
“I look forward to building on this legacy, working alongside our dedicated team, our phenomenal ambassadors and our partners as we continue to strive towards our mission of promoting social change through sports. Together, we will continue to create opportunities for young people, foster inclusivity, and drive impactful initiatives that uplift and empower communities.
“I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to outgoing Chairman, Morne du Plessis, for his exceptional leadership and dedication over the past 22 years. His unwavering commitment, dedication and visionary approach have been instrumental in shaping Laureus Sport for Good South Africa into the influential organisation it is today. Morne’s humility, positivity, passion for sport and its ability to drive social change has inspired countless individuals and initiatives, leaving an indelible mark on our organisation and the communities we serve. I want to thank him for his remarkable service and enduring legacy.”
Widely regarded as one of the greatest rugby players of all time, Habana has a long-standing relationship with Laureus, spanning over a decade. He became an Ambassador for Laureus South Africa in 2009, and was inducted into the Laureus World Sports Academy in 2020.
Deysel, the world’s first Black Female High Altitude mountaineer who has been on over a dozen major expeditions on five continents, has been a part of the Laureus family for a considerable length of time, has served on Laureus SA’s board of trustees since 2016, and has seen first-hand the impact of the foundation’s work on the broader community.
Thrilled about joining Habana in leading Laureus into a new era of sustainable social investment, she noted, “I look forward to working with Bryan. As the team’s ‘fresh faces’ we look forward to bringing rejuvenated energy to Laureus South Africa’s efforts. But I also want to thank Morne du Plessis and Ntambi Ravele, the outgoing leadership duo, for smoothing this transition with the strong foundation and values that their leadership has fostered over the past two decades. I can’t wait to step into this role with Bryan.”
As the new leadership of one of South Africa’s longest-standing social investment organisations, Habana and Deysel will continue to fulfill Laureus SA’s mission to use the power of sport in innovative ways to tackle some of the most pressing social challenges facing our youth, including poverty, homelessness, gangsterism, violence, drug and domestic abuse, discrimination and HIV/Aids.
The Foundation currently supports a network of over 25 sport for Social Change organisations in over 100 communities in South Africa alone. Since launching in 2000, Laureus Sport for Good has reached and helped change the lives of almost 6 million children and young people across the globe.
The Foundation was born at the inaugural Laureus World Sports Awards in 2000 when Laureus Patron, Nelson Mandela, spoke the words which sparked the creation of the worldwide Sport for Good movement: ‘Sport has the power to change the world; to unite people in a way little else does’. From sports stars to sports fans and the young people touched by Laureus Sport for Good programmes globally, these words remain the guiding light in everything they do.
