Dudu Mkhwanazi is the Chief Executive Officer of Project Isizwe and a digital inclusion advocate.
Project Isizwe is a non-profit organization that advocates for -and enables the deployment of free WiFi hotspots within a walking distance in low-income communities.
Project Isizwe partners with the private and/or public sectors and pioneered the deployment of the largest free public WiFi network in Africa in the Tshwane Municipality, Gauteng, South Africa.
Under Dudu’s leadership, Project Isizwe pioneered connecting two mining communities to free Wi-Fi in partnership with Glencore Mine in Emalahleni (Mpumalanga).
Isizwe also partnered with AWARE.org to use internet access as an enabler for their Responsible Alcohol Usage Programme; and The Social Collective on their Free WiFi Champions Programme – in Botshabelo (Free State), Bushbuckridge (Nelspruit) and Emalahleni with Glencore Mine.
Dudu completed her Undergraduate Degree in Public Administration as well as her Honours Degree in Political Science at North-West University’s Vaal Triangle Campus.
She launched her professional career at the University as the Research and Support Assistant at the School of Humanities.
In 2013, Dudu embarked on her Master’s Degree in Public Policy and Comparative Politics at the Université Montpellier in the south of France. Upon her return, she worked in the political environment, including serving as the Operations Manager to the Private Office of the MMC of Corporate and Shared Services in the City of Johannesburg Metro prior to joining Project Isizwe.
An avid reader, she shares her passion for books through reading for children at the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital and enjoys spending time in the outdoors.
She is passionate about internet governance and actively endeavors to influence policies in South Africa which will see the implementation of broadband in rural areas, with a specific focus on safe and quality internet access.
Twitter: twitter.com/DuduMkhwanazi
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dudu-mkhwanazi