Mandela Rhodes Foundation

The Mandela Rhodes Foundation was established in 2003 by agreement between the Nelson Mandela Foundation and the Rhodes Trust.

The Rhodes Trust desired to mark the centenary of its foundation by a significant gesture of investment in South Africa, which had been the original source of its own endowment. The Trust wished also to mark the transformation of South Africa by honouring the principal architect of that transformation, Nelson Mandela. In this way, the Rhodes Trust signaled its own sense of the evolution of its mission over time but in line with the principles of its founder.

The objective of the Mandela Rhodes Foundation is to contribute within South Africa “to the achievement of true equality, of dignity and educational opportunity for all, to the enhancement of the cultural heritage, to the strengthening of democracy, and the rule of law, and to the alleviation of poverty and suffering, especially amongst the children of the country”.

The Mandela Rhodes Foundation contributes to leadership development in Africa through supporting African students undertaking tertiary study in South Africa. A number of Mandela Rhodes Scholars have subsequently been selected as Rhodes Scholars. For more information on this, click here.

Individual Rhodes Scholars, as well as the Rhodes Trust, have made generous contributions to support the work of the Mandela Rhodes Foundation, including through the Friends of the Mandela Rhodes Foundation (USA) or directly to the Mandela Rhodes Foundation.

The Mandela Rhodes Foundation is governed by a Board of Trustees:

• Professor Jakes Gerwel (Chairman)
• The Rt Hon Lord Fellowes GCB GCVO QSO
• Dr Donald Markwell
• Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka
• Justice Yvonne Mokgoro
• Professor Njabulo Ndebele
• Mr Julian Ogilvie Thompson
• The Rt Hon Lord Waldegrave of North Hill

The Chief Executive of the Mandela Rhodes Foundation is a Rhodes Scholar, Shaun Johnson (South Africa-at-large & St Catherine's, 1982):

Mr Shaun Johnson
Mandela Rhodes Foundation
The Mandela Rhodes Building
150 St George's Mall
Cape Town 8001
PO Box 15897
Vlaeberg 8018
South Africa

T: +27 21 424 3346

F: +27 21 424 3499

For further information on the Mandela Rhodes Foundation, click here.

For further information on the Friends of the Mandela Rhodes Foundation (USA), click here.