Inaugural SAVCA Fellowship
2026 Cohort
What is the SAVCA Fellowship?
A prestigious learning, mentoring, exposure, and networking opportunity designed to accelerate the development of promising, young, mid-seniority, candidates to opportunities that will help equip them for future senior leadership roles within the private capital sector.
Fellows will be exposed to a mix of formal training, one-on-one mentoring, and group case study immersions and content will include technical, leadership, and business modules curated to ignite the potential of fellows for more senior leadership roles and responsibilities in their Firms and the industry more broadly.
This is an 11-month programme running from May 2026 to March 2027, with a maximum of 10 fellows
Why we launched the Fellowship Programme
Accelerate the development of industry leaders of the future
Create opportunities for exposure & learning for high-potential young leaders across the industry
Build useful networks & relationships between fellows & their senior executive mentors and faculty
Ignite strong bonds and networks within the cohort that could last throughout the fellows' careers
Alleviate shortages of mentorship capacity through a programme that inculcates a culture of giving back to the industry
Share important knowledge and best practice from experienced senior executives in the industry
Elevate the EVP of firms that nominate successful candidates as a value add exclusive to SAVCA members
What Fellows will learn and experience
An 11-month learning journey curated for young leaders in private capital in South Africa.
One-on-one mentorship from Senior Executives in the Industry.
Access to the SAVCA training material and courses offering in the year that you are a fellow, with the requirement to complete at least two courses.
An 11-month learning journey curated for young leaders in private capital in South Africa.
Being part of a prestigious cohort of 10 like-minded aspiring young leaders that are recognised as rising stars in the industry.
Exposure to a broad range of topics, trends and business leaders that are shaping the industry
Content modules across technical, leadership, and business topics curated into a powerful and thought provoking learning journey that explores:
- Leading self
- Leading others
- Leading Fund Management
- Leading Fundraising
- Leading Transactions
- Leading Business
- Leading Industry
- Leading for South Africa
Who should apply?
Please take the leap and apply, or encourage the promising young leader in your network to apply, if you / they respectively fit the description and eligibility criteria below.
If you are a high-performing, ambitious, and aspiring young leader in the private capital industry, that is hungry for a prestigious opportunity to learn and grow to your full potential, and meet the eligibility criteria below, then this could be one of those critical inflection points that shapes the trajectory of your future career.
Eligibility criteria:
- Currently aged 28-35 years
- Minimum qualifications: NQF Level 8 (Honours/CA equivalent)
- Currently employed in a Firm in the private capital industry that is a member of SAVCA
- Minimum 6 years' working experience in professional services or financial services
- Minimum of 3 years' experience working in the private capital industry
- The programme is open to all eligible applicants, and we will be looking for a cohort that is diverse and both racially and gender representative
Meet the SAVCA Fellowship Class of 2027
Chosen for their potential. United by purpose. Ready to shape the future of private capital.
Miranda Mashile
Gaone Segwe
Lungelo Makhathini
Sazisile Ndamse
Ndimande Marutha
Masechaba Makhura
Brent Smit
Tshegofatso Tshukudu
Khumo Keebine
Zamampondo Nqadolo
Adjudication Panel
Anusha Naidu
Anusha Naidu
Anusha is the Chief Executive Officer of Southern African Venture Capital and Private Equity Association, with over 20 years of experience across corporate finance, private capital markets, M&A advisory, ESG, and financial services. She previously served as Corporate Finance and ESG Executive at Select Africa, where she was a member of the Group Executive Committee and led capital raising, investor engagement, and strategic growth initiatives across multiple African markets. A Chartered Accountant (SA), Anusha has held senior roles at PwC across London, Dubai, Cape Town, and Johannesburg, advising global financial institutions and investors on complex cross-border transactions.
She is recognised for advancing innovative financing solutions across sectors such as housing, real estate, and microfinance, and contributes to industry thought leadership through academic engagement and policy discussions on impact investing and sustainable capital deployment.
Nicola Gubb
Nicola Gubb
Nicola Gubb is a seasoned investment professional with over 25 years of experience in private equity, corporate finance, and impact investing. She has held senior leadership roles including Chief Investment Officer at WDB Investment Holdings and has served as Acting Executive Director of Southern African Venture Capital and Private Equity Association. Nicola has led and managed multi-billion-rand investment portfolios and served on numerous boards across financial services, media, and education. She is particularly known for her work in BBBEE and gender-lens investing
Edward Pitsi
Edward Pitsi
Edward Pitsi is the Co-Founder and CEO of Infinite Partners, with extensive experience in private equity and investment management. He is a qualified CA(SA) and holds a Master's in Finance from University of Pretoria, as well as an Executive MBA from INSEAD. Edward co-founded Infinite Partners alongside long-standing partners, bringing over a decade of collaborative investment experience. He specialises in identifying high-growth businesses with strong competitive advantages and capable leadership teams, with a focus on long-term value creation and strategic execution. He is driven by the real-world impact of building businesses and fostering leadership beyond financial metrics, with a strong emphasis on partnership, vision, and execution.
Dion Mhlaba
Dion Mhlaba
Dion Mhlaba is the CEO of Energy Venture Capital and a Chartered Accountant (CA(SA)) with extensive experience across private equity, infrastructure, and development finance. He previously served as CFO of RH Bophelo, where he became one of the youngest black CFOs of a listed company following its listing on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. Dion began his career at KPMG, working with institutions such as Nedbank, the IDC, and the DBSA, before moving into advisory and investment roles across multiple sectors. He holds a BCom (Accounting) and Honours degree from the University of Johannesburg. He is passionate about economic transformation, SME development, and youth mentorship, and has been recognised through multiple nominations for the CFO Awards.
Annabelle Satterly
Annabelle Satterly
Annabelle Satterly is head of finance, at Opus18 Capital Partners. She has also been involved in the finance and operations team at Capricorn Capital Partners, where she managed group financial management, reporting, and operations. Her career experience includes being the CFO for VCP and Medu Capital.
Craig Beney
Craig Beney
The Founder and CEO Craig Beney has over 12 years’ experience in the industry in South Africa and the sub-Sahara sub-continent. This includes being Chief Operating Officer for three sub-Sahara funds:
- African Agriculture Fund (food security)
- Pan African Housing Fund (affordable housing)
- Communications Infrastructure Fund (digital infrastructure divide)
Thato Mashigo
Thato Mashigo
Thato is a Portfolio Manager at Sanlam Private Wealth. He is a member of the National Working Committee of 100 Women in Finance South Africa and sits on the Group Advisory Committee for the City of Johannesburg.
Thato has 12 years' experience in banking and investments, having worked at Citigroup, Credit Suisse, BNP Paribas and currently Sanlam. He holds an Economics degree from Rhodes University; a Finance (Hons) degree from the University of Cape Town; and is completing a Masters in Finance degree at INSEAD. He also holds the CFA and CAIA designations.
Advisory Board
Anusha Naidu
Anusha Naidu
Anusha is the Chief Executive Officer of Southern African Venture Capital and Private Equity Association, with over 20 years of experience across corporate finance, private capital markets, M&A advisory, ESG, and financial services. She previously served as Corporate Finance and ESG Executive at Select Africa, where she was a member of the Group Executive Committee and led capital raising, investor engagement, and strategic growth initiatives across multiple African markets. A Chartered Accountant (SA), Anusha has held senior roles at PwC across London, Dubai, Cape Town, and Johannesburg, advising global financial institutions and investors on complex cross-border transactions.
She is recognised for advancing innovative financing solutions across sectors such as housing, real estate, and microfinance, and contributes to industry thought leadership through academic engagement and policy discussions on impact investing and sustainable capital deployment.
Nicola Gubb
Nicola Gubb
Nicola Gubb is a seasoned investment professional with over 25 years of experience in private equity, corporate finance, and impact investing. She has held senior leadership roles including Chief Investment Officer at WDB Investment Holdings and has served as Acting Executive Director of Southern African Venture Capital and Private Equity Association. Nicola has led and managed multi-billion-rand investment portfolios and served on numerous boards across financial services, media, and education. She is particularly known for her work in BBBEE and gender-lens investing
Paula Mokwena
Paula Mokwena
Paula is the CEO at Fireball Capital and manages the co-investment and direct investment programme. She is responsible for sourcing, deal negotiation, deal execution and general investment management. Prior to her current role, her career spanned investment banking, development finance and private equity.
She previously worked for a grant funding programme designed to promote technology development in South Africa and was instrumental in the establishment of an on-balance sheet venture capital fund. She is a CFA charter holder who also holds qualifications in engineering; maths & applied maths; financial economics and investment management.
Rinolan Moodley
Rinolan Moodley
Rinolan Moodley is a Partner at Adenia, leading the firm's office and activities in South Africa. He is responsible for the full investment cycle, including deal origination, execution, and portfolio management. Joining Adenia in February 2025, Rinolan brings over 15 years of industry experience.
Prior to joining Adenia, Rinolan was a Senior Partner at Phatisa, where he was part of the executive committee and led numerous transactions across diverse industries throughout Africa. He has held several non-executive director roles, including positions at International Facilities Services, Rolfes, and the Meridian Group. Before Phatisa, he spent five years at PwC, working on M&A deals in Southern Africa and completing his articles.
Rinolan earned his Bachelor of Accounting Science and Higher Diploma in Accounting from the University of Witwatersrand and is a qualified Chartered Accountant in South Africa.
Trishanta Dheepnarayan
Trishanta Dheepnarayan
Trishanta Dheepnarayan is a director and principal at Metier and has over a decade of experience in private equity. She is a Chartered Financial Analyst® charterholder and has an educational background in finance, having completed a Bachelor of Business Science degree with honours in finance and majors in economics and management studies at the University of KwaZulu Natal.
Trishanta started her career in 2008 at Absa Capital Private Equity and joined Metier’s analyst programme in late 2009. She has a solid understanding of private equity market dynamics and has had exposure to a wide range of transactions, which have developed her relationship management skills, strong analytical skills and sound judgement.
Trishanta works across both the capital growth and sustainable capital practices and her responsibilities include the execution of new deals and the management of existing portfolio companies. As part of her portfolio management responsibilities, she is a director on the boards of portfolio companies.
Ria Papier
Ria Papier
Ria is the Client Director of Old Mutual Private Equity (OMPE) and is responsible for leading the fund raising and investor relations functions.
Ria joined OMPE in June 2021 having previously been in Investment Banking at Standard Bank. Ria’s investment banking career spans 17 years, where she has worked across diverse sectors, including Industrial and Consumer, in the origination and execution of equity and debt transactions, mergers & acquisitions and IPOs.
Prior to Standard Bank, Ria worked as a Metals and Mining Analyst at Merrill Lynch and a corporate financier at Cadiz Corporate Solutions.
Ria is a non-executive director on the SAVCA (Southern African Venture Capital and Private Equity Association) Board.
She holds a Bachelor of Business Science degree with an Honours in Finance from the University of Cape Town.
Musimuni Dowelani
Musimuni Dowelani
She has worked as an Equity Analyst and an academic in several prestigious South African universities, including the University of Pretoria. She is actively involved in volunteer work with the CFA Institute and CFA Society in South Africa. Her extensive involvement includes serving as a juror for the CFA Society South Africa - Young Analyst Awards, highlighting her commitment to nurturing new talent in the financial industry. Dr. Dowelani’ s research, as demonstrated in her PhD thesis titled "Blockchain Technology Adoption in the Securities Clearing and Settlement Industry in South Africa," focuses on the implementation of Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) solutions in the asset management industry.
She is concentrating on retirement planning among Black business owners in South Africa. Part of her research in this field received funding from INSETA. Her goal is to develop technologically based solutions that empower and optimize the financial future of this demographic. In addition Dr Dowelani is a Member of International Conference in Financial Services (ICFS) - Scientific Member. The ICFF is hosted the UNISA's Department of Finance and Risk Management and Banking.
Mohau Leteka
Mohau Leteka
Mohau Leteka is a renowned entrepreneur and private equity investor. As the Chairman and Founder of IDF Capital, a South African based entrepreneurial financier and advisory firm, Polo has contributed towards investments into women-owned SMEs across South Africa. An accountant by training, she has experience in both the Public and Private sectors of South Africa, specialising in accounting and auditing, corporate finance, investment banking, public policy formulation, venture capital and private equity in the SME sector.
Mentors
Fulufhelo Makwetla
Fulufhelo Makwetla
Fulufhelo is an accomplished investment professional and entrepreneur with a passion for developmental investments, diversity advancement, and inclusivity. She is the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Third Way Investment Partners and also serves on the board of SAVCA and various portfolio companies within the Third Way Asset Management Group. Her career began at RMB Asset Management, and she brings over 23 years of industry experience to her role.
In 2021, she was honoured with the Outstanding Female Professional award by ABSIP. Her extensive experience includes a significant tenure at the Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF), Africa’s largest pension fund, where she served on the Investment Committee of the Pan African Infrastructure Development Fund and represented GEPF on several private equity advisory boards.
Before joining GEPF, Fulu was an Executive and Senior Consultant at RisCura, consulting for pension funds, insurance companies, and medical schemes in Southern Africa. She also served as an employer-elected trustee of the RisCura Provident Fund.
Fulu’s dedication and expertise make her a prominent figure in the investment industry, driving forward initiatives that foster economic growth and social impact
Moushmi Patel
Moushmi Patel
Involved since Sanari’s first investment, Moushmi is custodian of the full private equity value chain, driving evaluation, execution, portfolio management and exit in equal measure. She has 9 years’ direct private equity experience and 18 years in financial services.
Before joining Sanari, she worked in the Investment Banking division at Rand Merchant Bank (RMB), where she was involved in several high-profile leverage finance transactions primarily in the Tech, Media and Telecoms (TMT) space. Moushmi brings extensive private equity, debt and structuring experience along with an understanding of the inner workings of businesses forged from her early experience at PriceWaterhouseCoopers, both locally and internationally.
Moushmi has a Bachelor of Accounting from the University of the Witwatersrand. She is a Chartered Accountant and member of the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants. Moushmi has an MBA from Gordon Institute of Business Science, University of Pretoria and is an alumnus of Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University.
Trishanta Dheepnarayan
Trishanta Dheepnarayan
Trishanta Dheepnarayan is a director and principal at Metier and has over a decade of experience in private equity. She is a Chartered Financial Analyst® charterholder and has an educational background in finance, having completed a Bachelor of Business Science degree with honours in finance and majors in economics and management studies at the University of KwaZulu Natal.
Trishanta started her career in 2008 at Absa Capital Private Equity and joined Metier’s analyst programme in late 2009. She has a solid understanding of private equity market dynamics and has had exposure to a wide range of transactions, which have developed her relationship management skills, strong analytical skills and sound judgement.
Trishanta works across both the capital growth and sustainable capital practices and her responsibilities include the execution of new deals and the management of existing portfolio companies. As part of her portfolio management responsibilities, she is a director on the boards of portfolio companies.
Daniel Hatfield
Daniel Hatfield
As CEO, Daniel leads Edge in realising its vision for a prosperous Africa through world-shaping SMEs. Under his leadership, thousands of Edge Growth assisted SMEs have thrived and tens of thousands of new jobs have been created. He has been involved in Enterprise Development and Impact Investing across the entire value chain – from developing and implementing strategies for corporates, raising capital and setting up the first-ever ESD funds, to hands-on supporting SMEs on their growth journeys.
Marde van Wyk
Marde van Wyk
Marde is an investment professional with extensive experience in private equity. For the past 14 years she has worked primarily on the funder/ LP side of the industry, most notably at the Public Investment Corporation in the role of Associate Fund Principal: Private Equity Funds and Co-Investments. However, her experience covers the entire deal value chain from sourcing and transaction structuring through leading of approval processes, execution / implementation, and portfolio management to final exit. After leaving the PIC, Marde was appointed as Principal: Private Markets at 27four Investment Managers where she currently serves on the Board, Advisory Board and various sub-committees of a number of underlying companies and funds that 27four is invested into, including Divercity.
Ketso Gordhan
Ketso Gordhan
Gordhan has operated for many years in the private equity and impact investing space. His positions and roles have included Head of Private Equity at FirstRand for almost a decade; managing a personal impact investment portfolio with a focus on education in SA and Rwanda; serving as Africa advisor to the Omidyar Network; and Head of Africa for the Commonwealth Development Corporation where he led the Africa investment strategy for the UK government’s development finance arm.
In addition to this expertise, Gordhan was the first post-apartheid Director General in the Ministry of Transport; the City Manager for the City of Johannesburg during 1999-2000; and an advisor to the Minister for Monitoring and Evaluation in the Presidency in 2009-2010. In the latter role, he sought to develop and institute performance outcome metrics and targets for all government ministries.
Gordhan has served on numerous private sector, foundation and non-profit boards of directors. He was an advisor to the World Bank Urban Sector on Municipal Restructuring, is an Aspen Global Leadership Fellow (a member of the Aspen Institute’s African Leadership Initiative), and in 2000, was elected a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader for Tomorrow.
Vusi Mahlangu
Vusi Mahlangu
Vusi Mahlangu is the Managing Director of Tamela Capital Partners, where he leads the firm’s mezzanine investment activities across multiple sectors. He serves on the firm’s Investment Committee, Portfolio Review Committee, and Operating Committee, playing a key role in strategic investment oversight and portfolio management.
He founded Tamela Holdings in 2008. Prior to this, he was the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Makalani Holdings Limited, where he managed a mezzanine investment portfolio valued at approximately R2.9 billion across various industries.
Before establishing Makalani Holdings in 2005, Vusi headed Public Sector Finance at Investec. Earlier in his career, he worked as a process engineer and production manager at African Oxygen Limited. Vusi holds a BSc in Chemical Engineering from University of Cape Town and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
Cora Fernandez
Cora Fernandez
Cora Fernandez was appointed Chief Executive of the Institutional Business division at Sanlam Investments in 2013. In this role, she oversees the growth of the company’s footprint and market share within the institutional and corporate investment sector, while leading a team focused on delivering exceptional client experiences to both existing and prospective clients.
Prior to this appointment, she served as Managing Director of Sanlam Investment Management for two years. The business operates as a multi-specialist investment management firm and is recognised as one of the largest asset managers in South Africa.
Before joining Sanlam Investment Management, Fernandez was the Chief Executive Officer of Sanlam Private Equity. Her private equity career began in 2001 at Ethos Private Equity. She is a qualified Chartered Accountant and completed her articles at KPMG in Johannesburg after obtaining a BCom degree from University of Cape Town and a BCompt Honours degree from University of South Africa.
In recognition of her contributions to the industry, Fernandez received the Top Private Equity Deal Maker Award from Association for Black Securities and Investment Professionals in 2006 and was later honoured with the Sanlam CEO’s Award in 2008.
Lelo Rantloane
Ketso Gordhan
Lelo is the founding CEO of Ata Capital and continues to play an active leadership role within the firm as Chair of the Investment Committee. In this capacity, he contributes his deep experience, strategic insight and entrepreneurial drive to Ata Capital’s investment decisions and business development initiatives, helping advance the firm’s mission of building enduring businesses across Africa.
Lelo represents Ata Capital on the boards of Spring Lights Gas, Imbewu Capital Investments, Masana, Ndalamo Resources and Jachris Hose and Couplings.
He is also a member of the Global Association of Risk Professionals (GARP).
Kabelo Moja
Kabelo Moja
Kabelo is a qualified and admitted attorney of the High Court of the Republic of South Africa. His qualifications include an LLB and Postgraduate Diploma in Tax from the University of the Witwatersrand and a LLM from the University of Pretoria.
Kabelo worked at the Public Investment Corporation SOC Limited as a senior legal advisor and periodically held an acting executive head of legal role, National Treasury of South Africa as a legal commercial director, Absa Capital and at Hogan Lovells South Africa.
He has extensive experience in corporate restructuring, mergers, corporate finance, litigation, a host of debt, equity and mezzanine funding and private equity across a diverse range of industries.
Kabelo has been involved in include an equity investment into various assets including a diversified agri business that exports wool and mohair products, a leading global ICT technology company, a security equipment manufacturing and communications company and a property development and management company that develops and manages mixed use developments in CBD’s.
