MEET THE DISABILITY-20 LEADERSHIP: Dr. Zukiswa Nzo

A Voice for the Invisible, A Champion for the Possible

“Fairness, when embedded in law, policy, and institutional design, is the cornerstone of just and sustainable societies.”

When Dr. Zukiswa Nzo—affectionately known as Zuki—speaks about inclusion, she does not speak from theory alone. She speaks from a life lived at the intersection of resilience, transformation, and unwavering commitment to justice.

From Potchefstroom to Global Platforms

Born in Potchefstroom as the only daughter among five brothers, Zuki was the curious tomboy who played cricket and soccer alongside her brothers, never letting anything limit her spirit. Her late father was a teacher, and her mother a professional nurse, both of whom instilled in her a love for learning and a heart for service.

Life took an unexpected turn in her twenties when a hijacking left her with a gunshot injury, making her a wheelchair user. But what could have been a complete stop became a comma—a pause that redirected her energy toward advocacy and transformed her understanding of what it means to move through a world that wasn’t built with everyone in mind.

Today, as a single mother to her teenage son, Kezzy, she balances motherhood with a demanding career spanning continents. Having completed her advanced studies in Japan and returned to South Africa, she now works across levels—from grassroots advocacy with disability communities to conference rooms at the United Nations and G20 engagement forums, carrying her lived experience as both credential and compass.

A Career Built on Breaking Barriers

With over 16 years of professional experience, Dr. Nzo’s career reads like a roadmap of impact:

Academic Excellence:

• PhD in Social Governance from Waseda University, Japan
• Masters in Regional Development from Toyo University, Japan
• BCom Honours in Economics from North-West University
• Mandela Washington Fellow (Indiana University, USA)
• Research Fellow at the University of the Free State’s

Professional Milestones: Starting with the DaimlerChrysler Graduate Programme in 2004, Zuki has worked across sectors—from economist roles at Urban-Econ and the Trans Caledon Tunnel Authority to strategic positions at SABC—and ultimately found her calling in advocacy at the National Council of and for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD).

Entrepreneurial Vision: In 2015, she co-founded Kezzy Diversity & Inclusion (Pty) Ltd, a 100% black female-owned consultancy that continues to manage transformative disability equity projects across South Africa and beyond.

Innovation That Changes Lives

At NCPD, Dr. Nzo didn’t just develop programmes—she built systems that endure:

The GATMEA Enquiry System (Gathering, Assigning, Tracking, Monitoring, Evaluating, and Analysing) revolutionised how NCPD handles beneficiary enquiries. What was once a fragmented process is becoming a centralised, data-driven system that generates insights to inform programmes—ensuring no voice gets lost.

The Entrepreneurship Development Support (EDS) Programme emerged from a careful needs analysis and now supports over 2,000 entrepreneurs with disabilities across South Africa, offering mentorship, market access, and peer support through partnerships with organisations such as Accenture and Google South Africa.

Leadership That Matters: The Disability-20 Connection

Dr. Nzo’s recent appointment as Co-Chair of the Civil Society 20 (C20) under South Africa’s G20 Presidency marks a historic milestone—not just for her, but for disability inclusion globally.

Why Platforms Like Disability-20 and C20 Matter:

The Disability-20 and Civil Society 20 (C20) are crucial lobbying and engagement groups within the G20 framework. They serve as bridges between grassroots movements and the world’s most powerful economies, ensuring that the voices of marginalised communities—particularly those of persons with disabilities—are heard as policies are shaped.

These platforms matter because:

• They elevate lived experience to the highest levels of global governance.
• They hold governments accountable to commitments on inclusion and human rights.
• They influence multilateral agreements that affect billions of lives.
• They create space for civil society to shape economic, social, and environmental policy.

Dr. Nzo’s role represents the South African disability sector’s collective assertion: We are here. We are capable. We will be heard.

Her Advocacy Agenda: Issues That Can’t Wait

Through her Disability-20 and C20 leadership, Dr. Nzo champions interconnected priorities:

Economic Justice: Fighting for employment equity, entrepreneurship support, and the economic empowerment of persons with disabilities who remain among the most economically excluded globally.

Accessible Infrastructure: Advocating for universal design in transport, built environments, and digital spaces—because access is not a luxury; it’s a right.

Inclusive Development: Ensuring disability is not an afterthought in the Sustainable Development Goals but is woven into every policy from the start.

Intersectional Approaches: Recognising that disability intersects with gender, race, age, and geography—and that solutions must address these overlapping barriers.

Digital Inclusion: Pushing for accessible technology and digital literacy, especially critical in an increasingly online world.

The Human Behind the Titles

Those who know Zuki personally describe someone who leads with her whole heart. Her mentor of 15 years, the National Executive Director of NCPD, Therina Wentzel, recalls: “She spoke of doing her doctorate when most young professionals were still finding their feet. But she has always remained grounded as a mother and community builder.”

Her colleague Lebo Boya, Senior Manager at NCPD, reflects: “She put her heart and time into the work, always grounding it in the lived realities of persons with disabilities. For those of us privileged to work alongside her, she has modelled how leadership is not just about vision but about creating tools that outlive the individual and continue to empower generations.”

Friends share stories of how she opens her home during crises, mentors young women through pregnancy and divorce, and remains present—not just professionally, but personally.

Recognition and Service

• UNISA Council Member serving on Social and Ethics, Human Resources, and Audit committees
• Chairperson – Council for Built Environment Universal Access Transformation Collaborative Forum
• Presidential Working Group on Disability member
• Ambassador – Red Bull’s Wings for Life World Run (global initiative for spinal cord injury research)

• Gold Winner – Social Transformation Category, 2019 Gauteng Province Excellence Awards
• Former Trustee – South African Disability Development Trust (SADDT)
• Deputy Chairperson – BEE ICT Council (Department of Communications)

Looking Forward: The Next 30 Years

As South Africa reflects on three decades of democracy, Dr. Nzo looks ahead with characteristic determination. Her dream? To see transformative revolutions in the disability sector, to contribute deeper academic research on economic empowerment, and to continue mentoring the next generation.

“They shape me as much as I hope to shape them,” she says of the youth, women, and persons with disabilities she mentors—a reminder that true leadership is a two-way exchange.

Why Dr. Nzo’s Leadership Matters Now

In a world where disability is still too often met with pity rather than respect, where accessibility is seen as accommodation rather than a right, Dr. Nzo’s presence in global governance spaces is revolutionary.

She brings:

• Lived expertise that policymakers desperately need
• Proven systems-building skills that translate ideas into impact
• Intergenerational vision that connects grassroots movements to global forums
• Unwavering commitment to equity that refuses to settle for tokenism

Her appointment to Disability-20 and C20 leadership isn’t just about representation—it’s about transformation. It’s about ensuring that when the world’s most powerful nations make decisions about climate, economy, technology, and development, the voices of those historically left behind are not just in the room but shaping the agenda.