The Tekano journey is more than one story

 It is a new journey for all of us – rich and complex with many influences. There are many role players – individuals, groups, professions, even whole communities – each adding to the range of perspectives, challenges, and contributions. The questions are many – and the solutions just as diverse. So how are we to share it with you in a few pages?

In trying to answer “What is Tekano?” and “What is the work that we do?” we realised that the answer was rich and complex, so we have attempted to answer it in a series of stories. We hope that this will give you a more nuanced perspective of the organisation and of its unfolding.

 

What we offer

A Fellows Programme that is run each year where we invite  applications, and screen, select  and recruit approximately 25 Fellows.

We also have Alumni Programme  and a presence and voice in its  own right – promoting health equity through addressing structural and social determinants of health.

Introductory Video

Meet our Yearlong Fellows

Latest Updates

News & Activities

Reimagining Black Fatherhood in South Africa

The 2024 State of South African Fathers (SOSAF) report has reignited debates about fatherhood in this country. Its findings are stark: economic precarity, restrictive gender norms, and the lingering myth of the “absent Black father” continue to shape perceptions of...

Reclaiming the streets of Langa

“Government has been building streets from the car perspective for so long things need to change, communities need to connect. Cape Town is so segregated things are far by driving but once you navigate streets, they are so close. What I love a lot about cycling is...

“Isolation is the enemy of justice”

Tekano recently convened Umzabalazo, its annual gathering dedicated to reflection, creativity, and collective celebration. This year’s theme, “The Power of Us,” paid tribute to the tradition of collective action that has shaped South Africa’s pursuit of justice. The...

Breaking the Borders: Lessons from Nairobi

“We can no longer stay in a vacuum and enable colonialism. For as long as we remain closed in our borders, we are giving power to colonialism because that is what they wanted, that is what they did in 1885,” said the Pan-Africanist Mildred Ngesa during a discussion...

Safeguard the National Dialogue from ‘elitism and electioneering’

Like many other South Africans, I approached the National Dialogue with some scepticism. Too often, such spaces are elite-led, with ordinary voices left out. However, as a social activist,  I know the importance of carrying with me the voices of those I organise with...

“Waiting is a luxury we can no longer afford.”

The journey through Kenya with Tekano was not just a passage across land, but a threshold into truth, a soulful reckoning that awakened me from the fog of complacency and entitlement. Beneath Africa’s pulse, I faced the raw power of presence: that change does not wait...

Rest in Power Crystal!

We are deeply saddened by the passing of our former colleague, Crystal Dicks, who led our programme between 2020-2022. Bringing a deep experience as a labour union education leader, feminist activist, and thinker, Crystal took on the directorship of the Tekano...

The Role of SA Media in Perpetuating Abortion Stigma

Remember when local newspapers published records of Bonang Matheba’s alleged abortion after reports of her being allegedly abused by her ex, DJ Euphonik? That moment remains a stark example of how the media in South Africa perpetuates abortion stigma, turning a...

How Change Happens

Our Cohort 6 fellows recently gathered in Johannesburg for the in-person learning experience III. The learning experience, titled How Change Happens, provided a space to build on individual and collective understanding and sense-making of how change happens, not only...

A Call for Urgent Action on Drug Abuse

As the world observed International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on 26 June, our fellow Thando Masango raised concerns about the drug crisis affecting South Africa’s youth. Thando, who is an anti-drug activist and community advocate, is alarmed by...

Fellows

What our fellows have to say

In my activism work I became aware of the psychological trauma that abducted girls and women have to live with for the rest of their lives if they are not supported. This level of awareness needs to be put into action, by conscientising other stakeholders.
Sibongile Mtungwa

Fellow at KwaZulu-Natal

I am passionate about training environmental health practitioners, building their capacity to be aware of factors in the environment that affect health such that prevention of ill health and injury plays a key role in their thinking and, invariably, in the work that they do.
Luqman Yesefu

Fellow at Eastern Cape

My activist vigour is focused towards building a South Africa where Alma Ata (primary health care) takes centre stage and the underprivileged South Africans have access to affordable, quality healthcare regardless of class, employment, gender, origin, or ability to pay.
Bernard Mutsago

Health Policy Researcher