Steering Committee
The Vital Role of Our Steering Committee Volunteers
The success of our Rally is largely attributed to the dedicated members of our Steering Committee. These volunteers bring a diverse range of skills and expertise, each contributing uniquely to the event’s smooth operation and overall success. Their commitment and hard work are invaluable, ensuring that every aspect of the Rally runs seamlessly. We are deeply grateful for their contributions and the positive impact they have on our community.
Brand Pretorius
Chairperson
Brand Pretorius is the founder of Rally to Read, he served as a CEO of the McCarthy group from 1995 to 2011. He has four honorary professorships and two honorary doctorates which were bestowed on him by leading South African Universities
Alupheli Sithebe
Deputy Chairperson
Alupheli holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting Science and Honours from UJ and UNISA respectively. She completed her articles with EY in 2008, during which time she qualified as a Chartered Accountant. Alupheli subsequently furthered her studies by graduating with a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Gordons Institute of Business Science (GIBS) in 2014.
Pam Richardson
Committee Member
Has extensive experience in Corporate Social Involvement (CSI) and Human Resources (HR) and has strategic and practical insights into both fields. As a consultant, she helps organizations enhance their community support and staff management practices. Her passion for education drives her involvement in community programs and staff development, including facilitating workshops, and strategy sessions, and managing long-term development programs. She focuses on leveraging e-learning for company staff and schools. Notable CSI programs she has been involved with include Rally to Read, the Tertiary-level Scholarship Programme, Growing to Read, Teaching & Technology, and the Singita School of Cooking. Her strategic approach ensures mutual benefits for communities and supporting organizations, with an emphasis on building long-term partnerships.
Dr Thokozani Dyosini
Committee member
Dr. Dyosini is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Early Childhood Education and Development at the University of South Africa (Unisa) in Pretoria.
Emmanuel Taban
Rally to Read Ambassador
At age 16, Taban escaped Sudan when his father died in the civil war and spent two years on the streets of Eritrea. After being rejected by an uncle in Kenya, he continued south, eventually reaching SA. With the help of charities, he re-started his education, becoming a doctor and then a pulmonologist. His story is told in his autobiography, The Boy Who Never Gave Up. Last year, Taban was named one of the 100 most influential Africans by New African magazine.
Barney Mthombothi
Rally to Read Ambassador
Mthombothi’s academic achievements include a distinguished double fellowship: he was named a Reuters Fellow at Oxford in 1986 and a Nieman Fellow at Harvard University in 1994. Beginning his career as a cadet at SAAN in 1978, Mthombothi worked at the Rand Daily Mail, Eastern Province Herald, and Sunday Express before joining The Sunday Tribune for a five-year tenure. His career then took him to London with the BBC World Service, followed by extensive travels across Africa with Argus Africa News Service. In 1993, he was appointed day editor of the Sowetan, where he secured his Nieman Fellowship. Returning to the Sowetan in July 1994, he quickly rose to become head of radio news at the SABC by November, marking the first of two significant periods at the Corporation.