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KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Dr. Sujata Tiwari
- CEO, Entrepreneur, Author & Life Mentor
Scholar & Author
The Phaphama Book Festival 2025, a flagship initiative of St Francis Productions in collaboration with the Central
University of Technology, Free State is a celebration of literature, knowledge, and storytelling. It brings together authors,
thinkers, and changemakers who use words to inspire transformation. As part of this year’s lineup, we are honored to
welcome Dr. Sujata Tiwari as a keynote speaker.
Dr. Tiwari is an accomplished entrepreneur, mentor, and author whose journey embodies resilience, innovation, and
empowerment. With a career spanning journalism, brand protection, franchising, retail, and skincare, she has built
businesses that reflect both purpose and impact. Today, she leads as Director of HMZ Pte Ltd and is the founder Sujata
Against All Odds Pte Ltd, a brand that champions holistic wellbeing by nurturing both the inner and outer self.
Her passion for storytelling and mentorship shines through her work as a writer and life coach, where she helps
individuals rediscover their identity, motivation, and purpose. She is also the author of Against All Odds: No Retakes,
No Manuals, Real Life Lessons, a book that captures her wealth of experiences as a mother, wife, journalist, consultant,
activist, leader, and businesswoman across different continents. Through her story, she provides readers with practical
insights on navigating the unpredictable nature of life insights that cannot be taught in a classroom.
A strong advocate for human rights and empowerment, Dr. Tiwari continues to inspire through her belief that growth
begins with openness to learning and exploration. At Phaphama, she brings her voice as an author and mentor to
encourage audiences to embrace transformation, pursue knowledge, and tell their own stories of possibility.
Keynote Speaker, Leadership, intrepreneurship and mental wellness.
Event Date: 23 October 2025
BOOK LAUNCH
Dr. Mathews Phosa
- Distinguished Legal
Scholar & Author
Nanai Mathews Phosa, Born on September 1, 1952, in Mbombela Township,
Mpumalanga, was an axiled ANC commander and Premier of Mpumalanga.He Sudied
law at the University of the North and later founded the first black-owned law firm in
Nelspruit, Phosa, Mojapelo and Makgoba Attorneys. Phosa served as the regional
commander of Umkhonto we Sizwe in Mozambique and later headed the ANC's legal
department. After South Africa's first democratic government in 1994, he became the
first Premier of Mpumalanga, serving until 1999. He was elected to the ANC's National
Executive Committee in 1999 and served as ANC Treasurer-General from 2007 to 2012.
Phosa also served as Chairperson of the University of South Africa (Unisa) Council from
2003 to 2015, guiding the merger of Unisa, Technikon SA, and Vista University's
distance education units. He has engaged internationally in peace and mediation
efforts and sits on governance bodies such as the Brazzaville Foundation. After leaving
parliament in 1999, Phosa focused business and held board positions with firms such
as Jubilee Platinum, Value Group, Merensky Tmber, and Rubic Consortium.
Book launch.
Event Date: 24 October 2025
PANELIST
Dr. Ntswaki Masithela
- Author & Life Coach
Dr. Ntswaki Masithela is the Founder and Owner of Spiral Up Coaching, a company that
helps clients achieve desired outcomes through practical coaching techniques. She is
a skilled professional with over 20 years of experience in the development sector,
focusing on youth and SMMEs. She holds a Doctoral Degree in Education, specializing
in Educational Phychology, and various certificates, including Advanced Project
Management, Managing for Results, and Harvard Manage Mentor.
Panel discussion.
Event Date: 23 October 2025
PANELIST
Mr. Atang Blessing Raliile
- Young Author & Social Impact Advocate
Atang Blessing Raliile, a Lesotho author and social impact advocate, is
the founder of Blast Empowerment Lesotho, an NGO that empowers
youth through sports and entrepreneurship. He attended New
Millenium Primary School and St. Baniface High School before
pursuing a degree in Software Engineering with Multimedia. Raliile's
debut poetry collection, Echoes of Excellence, explores themes of
youth empowerment, entrepreneurship, Basotho culture, and resilience.
He plans to combine his passion for technology and creativity by
pursuing a degree in Software Engineering with Multimedia.
Panel discussion.
GUEST SPEAKER
Ms. Ncazelo Ncube
- Mlilo Narrative Therapy
The Phaphama Book Festival 2025, a flagship initiative of St Francis Productions in collaboration with the Central
University of Technology, Free State is a celebration of literature, knowledge, and storytelling. It brings together
authors, thinkers, and changemakers who use words to inspire transformation. As part of this year’s lineup, we are
honored to welcome Ms Ncube Mlilo Guest Speaker.
Ncazelo Ncube Mlilo is a transformative force in global mental health, whose pioneering workhas reshaped trauma care
across continents. As a world-renowned narrative therapist and founder of Phola NPO, she has developed Afrocentric,
culturally sensitive methodologies like the Tree of Life and COURRAGE that empower individuals and communities to
heal through storytelling and connection. Her impact in South Africa is profound, reaching over 15,000 people annually
through culturally responsive trauma counselling and psychosocial support, especially in underserved areas. Globally,
her approaches are now used in more than 60 countries, influencing institutions like the NHS in the UK and the Dulwich
Centre in Australia. Her recent triple win at the 2025 Women Changing the World Awards including the prestigious
Golden Heart Award cements her legacy as a visionary who not only uplifts communities but also redefines how the
world understands healing.
In 2025, Ncazelo Ncube-Mlilo was honored with three prestigious accolades at the Women Changing the World Awards in
London, including the Golden Heart Award, which celebrates women who serve the world with deep compassion and
care. These awards recognized her groundbreaking work in mental health and her commitment to empowering
marginalized communities through Afrocentric, narrative-based healing methodologies. In a historic development,
Ncazelo was also granted the exclusive license to host the Women Changing the World Awards South Africa a first for the
continent. This opportunity positions her not only as a global change maker and healer, but also as a catalyst for
transformation within South Africa.
By bringing this platform home, Ncazelo aims to spotlight and uplift women from underserved and overlooked
communities, creating space for their voices, innovations, and leadership to be celebrated. Her vision is to build a
movement that honors African excellence and fosters healing, resilience, and empowerment for generations to come.
Guest speaker, Narrative therapy.
Event Date: 25 October 2025
WORKSHOP FACILITATOR
Mr. Tseliso Masolane
- Self-published-author, Sesotho poetry anthologies, Currently an
Assistant Director and Manager at SLMA Deputy Director at DSACR.
Tseliso Masolane was born in Hlohlolwane, in the Eastern Free State.
He matriculated at Tshepang Secondary School in 1992, and holds the
following qualifications: Primary Teachers Diploma qualification,
Further Diploma in Education- Specializing in Education Management,
at University of Pretoria, BA in Languages and Literature-Specializing
in Creative Writing, with UNISA, MA in Creative Writing with Rhodes University,
currently studying for Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Languages & Literature with
Linguistics & Literary Theory, with North West University.
A former Project Manager of Youth Development Project: UFS-QwaQwa Campus, in 2001,
a former educator at Seanakwena Secondary school, 1996-1999, and Accelerated Christian
College in 2005, and a former radio station manager and a radio presenter at QwaQwa Radio,
from 2000-2003, and Motheo FM in 2009.
Currently an Assistant Director and Manager at Sesotho Literature Museum and
Acting Deputy Director at Department of Sport, Arts, Culture & Recreation.
As a freelance media trainer, Tseliso Masolane mentored and trained a variety
of stakeholders, mainly in the community media sector, which includes, among others,
the following: Radio presentation training to trainees for South African Community
Radio stations in various provinces, through among other production companies, for
Workers World Media Production. Areas of development and training include radio presenting,
programme production, basic and advanced radio management.
Tseliso Masolane is self-published author, currently with four books published;
two Sesotho poetry anthologies, BO NAKA DI MARIPA and HA KE KGUTSE, one Sesotho novel,
KGOBA MERETHETHONG and one English novella in flash, BEASTS WE LOVE.
Writing Skills Workshop.
Event Date: 25 October 2025
MASTERCLASSES
Mr. Teliso Mpekoa
- WorldSkills Robotics Expert
A premier project of St Francis Productions in association with the Central University of Technology, Free State The
Phaphama Book Festival is a prime event of books, learning and narrative. A gathering of authors, intellectuals and
thought leaders who use words to promote change for the present and future. We are please to have Mr Mpekoa present
a Masterclass on the relationship within the STEAM family as part of our guest speakers this year. From township
entrepreneurship to shaping Africa’s future in robotics, Mr. Tseliso Mpekoa has built a career defined by innovation,
resilience, and vision. As CEO of Mirae Robotics and Director of Mirae Edutainment Robots, he is driving projects that
connect technology with education, positioning robotics not as a distant concept but as a tool for everyday learning and
opportunity.
Since 2022, Mr. Mpekoa has been a Project Engineer with WorldSkills International, contributing to the organisation’s
mission of advancing technical and vocational excellence. His work with WorldSkills has taken him onto the global stage
where he continues to play a part in shaping the conversation around robotics, skills, and innovation.He previously
served more than a decade as Business Development Manager at the Central University of Technology, Free State
cultivating enterprise partnerships and strengthening higher education’s role in innovation. Today, his work also extends
to the post-school sector, where he implements robotics programmes that prepare young people and professionals for
the demands of a rapidly changing world.
Through his extensive experience, Mr. Mpekoa has forged partnerships across the SADC region in education and robotics,
while establishing strategic ties with partners in South Korea. He has also contributed to educational innovation with
South Africa’s Department of Basic Education, particularly in the Free State and Eastern Cape, bringing robotics and new
technologies into classrooms. Mr. Mpekoa holds a B.Sc. in Computer Science and a Bachelor’s degree in Project Management, grounding his leadership in both technical expertise and strategic management.
Masterclass, Recognising the Bond Within the STEAM Fammily.
Event Date: 23 October 2025
MASTERCLASSES
Dr. Allen Mutono (PhD)
- Founder & CEO, IALE Institute
A premier project of St Francis Productions in association with the Central University of Technology, Free State The
Phaphama Book Festival is a prime event of books, learning and narrative. A gathering of authors, intellectuals and
thought leaders who use words to promote change for the present and future. We are please to have Dr Mutono
present a Masterclass on Artificial Intelligence as part of our guest speakers this year.
Dr. Allen Mutono stands at the forefront of Africa's digital revolution as an artificial intelligence transformation
practitioner. As Founder and CEO of IALE Institute, an accredited AI skills development provider, he has dedicated his
career to empowering organizations across the continent to harness the transformative power of artificial intelligence.
Author of "The AI Toolkit" - the definitive guide for AI implementation in African workplaces - Dr. Mutono translates
complex AI concepts into practical, real-world solutions that speak directly to the African context. His philosophy is
clear: "AI must do more than enable self-driving cars or generate content. We need better education, health, more food,
and growth for our businesses and continent."
Holding a PhD with doctoral research focused on mobile learning technologies, Dr. Mutono brings both academic rigor
and practical expertise to his work. His contributions to South Africa's technology landscape have earned him national
recognition, including his appointment to lead the evaluation of South Africa's Coding and Robotics Curriculum and
recognition as a finalist for the Science and Technology Minister's Award for Technology Excellence.
Dr. Mutono is also AI discipline lead at Da Vinci Institute, where he also provides academic guidance to post graduate
students. At Phaphama Book Festival 2025, Dr. Mutono will present his acclaimed masterclass: "ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
TOOLKIT: A Non-Technical Guide for Using AI at Work" - a practical session designed to equip professionals with easy-to
use AI tools for everyday tasks, making cutting-edge technology accessible to everyone.
Masterclass, on Artificial Intelligence Toolkit: A Non-Technical Guide for Using AI at Work, free copy of
the AI Toolkit book.
Event Date: 24 October 2025
GUEST SPEAKER
Prof. Philippe Burger
-
Dean of the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences: University of the Free State
The Phaphama Book Festival 2025, a flagship initiative of St Francis Productions in collaboration with the Central
University of Technology, Free State is a celebration of literature, knowledge, and storytelling. It brings together authors,
thinkers, and changemakers who use words to inspire transformation. As part of this year’s lineup, we are honored to
welcome Prof. Philippe Burger.
Philippe Burger is the Dean of the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences at the University of the Free State since
2022 and Professor of Economics, University of the Free State, since 2007. He is a 2016/17 FulbrightExchange Scholar at
Columbia University. Since April 2022 he has been a Non-Resident Senior Research Fellow, United Nations University World
Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER), in which capacity he is the lead for the Macro-Fiscal
workstream for the SA-TIED II project. In addition, he has been a visiting scholar at the IMF and seconded to the OECD to
work on Public-Private Partnerships, a past-president of the Economic Society of South Africa and former member of the
South African Statistics Council. From October 2024 to January 2025, he was the Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic
and from July 2019 to June 2022, the Pro-Vice Chancellor for Poverty, Inequality and Economic Development at the
University of the Free State. He has written numerous scholarly books and articles on Macroeconomics, Public Finance
and Fiscal Policy.
Book Launch Reflactions.
Event Date: 24 October 2025