By Simon Nare

Gugu Motlanthe, executive director of the Kgalema Motlanthe Foundation, has dedicated her career to supporting young learners and addressing the gaps left by South Africa’s public education system.

Through the foundation, she has developed what she describes as a unique window into the lives of children — an insight into their struggles, aspirations, and the support they need to thrive.

“At the Kgalema Motlanthe Foundation, we are acutely aware of the gaps many learners in public schools must navigate — gaps shaped by access, resources and socioeconomic realities,” she told Inside Education.

“This awareness guides our commitment to step into the lived experience of our learners, to understand what their minds hunger for and what their hearts respond to.”

Motlanthe cherishes her own early school memories — the classroom, teachers and shared curiosity — because they help her interpret the minds of today’s young people. She values the imaginative world children inhabit, believing that adults can rediscover solutions by observing how children think and interact.

“One of the ways we do this is through intergenerational dialogue,” she said. Before and after extracurricular sessions, the team spends time speaking with learners, sharing meals and, crucially, listening.

“Listening is a muscle that must be exercised intentionally.”

In a world dominated by social media noise and shrinking attention spans, she believes active listening has become rare. Yet it is precisely what children want. “Listening helps us reconnect with our intuition — a voice many adults have long ignored. Children are masters of instinct. They remind us what it feels like to trust our gut, follow our emotions, and explore the world with openness.”

Motlanthe views education as the most powerful tool for transformation, offering skills, confidence, networks and opportunity. Her work is anchored in the recognition that circumstances differ widely. While some high-profile figures built careers without completing degrees, she warns that such examples are the exception and not a model for young people.

“We must encourage learners to pursue education — not to follow a single path, but to expand their choices and tools for life,” she said.

Motlanthe also reflected on the mounting burdens teachers face: poverty, trauma, inequality, and shifting societal expectations. “They are idols, mentors, counsellors, disciplinarians, coaches and caregivers — all in a single day,” she said.

Despite the challenges, many continue to show up with dedication and compassion. Society, she argued, must offer them resources, professional development, emotional care and meaningful recognition.

Motlanthe’s own educational journey was profoundly shaped by her Standard 8 mathematics teacher, Mr Noor, at her Sydenham high school in Durban. He was not loud or forceful; rather, his quiet confidence made her feel capable. He often recognised her potential before she did.

Though she was placed in the top academic classes, she did not take Physical Science — a limitation that sometimes affected class placement. Mr Noor looked past this, recognising her ability to excel in mathematics and challenging her to rise to it.

One lesson from him stayed with her for life: “In mathematics, the answer is always hidden in the question.”

Through his teaching, mathematics became more than numbers; it became a way of thinking — about logic, patterns, planning and problem-solving. It even helped her absorb content-heavy subjects. His belief built her confidence and strengthened the resilience and independence she carries today. “If a supportive teacher can change a learner’s trajectory, then he surely changed mine,” she said.

English and history classes fuelled her imagination, but mathematics taught her that every problem contains the seed of its own solution — a message she believes remains essential for today’s learners.

Motlanthe worries about the growing narrative that formal education is unnecessary for success. Public figures often cite their unconventional paths — Kanye West’s The College Dropout, Oprah Winfrey leaving university early, or Bonang Matheba’s insistence on hard work. These stories are inspiring, she acknowledged, but they are outliers.

“Success without education is not a formula learners can rely on,” she emphasised. A more constructive message would be: ‘If I had been able to complete my studies, I might have been even more empowered and successful.’ Education strengthens confidence, discipline, critical thinking, creativity and resilience. It creates networks and opportunities many young people do not even know exist.

Reflecting further on her journey, Motlanthe noted that teachers often underestimate their influence. Learners spend more waking hours with teachers than with their own parents, and educators shape intellectual, emotional and social development. Today’s teachers face unprecedented pressures, yet many continue to serve with heart.

Her reflections pay tribute not only to her favourite teacher but to educators everywhere. “Teachers need empathy, encouragement and respect,” she said. “Society must equip them with resources, professional development and emotional care.”

INSIDE EDUCATION