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The board of Corruption Watch (CW) is delighted to announce the appointment of its new executive director, Lebogang Ramafoko, who will commence her role on 5 January 2026. 

Lebogang is well-known in the South African NGO and social justice sector as a leading feminist, activist and visionary leader. She is a seasoned development, gender, and social justice expert who has served at the helm of critical organisations, notably Soul City Institute, Atlantic Fellows for Health Equity in South Africa, and Oxfam South Africa. In all of these roles, she has been committed to advancing issues related to women’s rights, gender justice, economic justice, environmental and climate justice, democracy, and governance. 

She holds a bachelor’s degree in education, a post-graduate diploma in applied ethics from Wits University, and a master’s degree in public administration from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. 

In her 32 years’ experience in the social justice field, she has championed human rights and equity for the most marginalised in society. In her executive director roles, she has led from the front, managing the strategic visioning processes and improving operational governance in each organisation. 

“We are excited to welcome Lebogang to our committed CW team. Her unique combination of activism, boldness in speaking out against injustice, and understanding of the social and structural barriers that perpetuate poverty and inequality in South Africa aligns well with our human rights approach to addressing the impact of corruption on our society,” says Prof. Themba Maseko, chair of the CW board. 

From 1995 to 2011, in her role as senior manager at the Soul City Institute, prior to being appointed as executive director, Lebogang was instrumental in creating specific and targeted programs that addressed different health and development issues in communities across South Africa. Driven by the need to advocate for accessible public reporting systems and mechanisms to hold duty bearers accountable during the early years of the AIDS pandemic, she helped develop community-based monitoring systems, enabling community members to advocate for their rights to access to health. 

Similarly, during her tenure as executive director at Oxfam South Africa from 2022 to 2025, she worked with organisations advocating for the labour rights of farm workers and the environmental rights of communities impacted by the use of harmful pesticides, challenging their use in South Africa. 

These experiences of working with communities to demand just and accountable governance will stand her in good stead across several CW projects that relate to climate governance, land, health, and the rights of mining-affected communities. 

“Lebogang’s extensive experience in our sector highlights her ability to build strong networks, raise and manage funds to ensure sustainability, and communicate about critical issues with passion and clarity. Her ethical principles, enduring commitment to social justice, and visionary approach to her work make her well-placed to steer Corruption Watch to this next exciting phase in our journey,” concludes Maseko.

Issued by Corruption Watch