Cross-sector, research-based development strategy organisation Indlulamithi SA Scenarios Trust has appointed economist Xhanti Payi as chairperson of the board of trustees.

The organisation also appointed Kagiso Masela, Thato Tsita and Zimkhitha Peter as trustees.

Payi succeeds Professor Somadoda Fikeni who has led the trust since its founding in 2017. Fikeni remains a trustee, and is working closely with the new chairperson, including by attending key stakeholder engagements in support of Indlulamithi's work.

The appointments are part of the organisation’s work to advance strategic thinking and shape a shared vision for South Africa’s future by fostering inclusive conversations and the use of evidence-based foresight.

“This year, Indlulamithi will embark on Conversations on the Journeys to our Future; a dialogue series based on the 2035 Indlulamithi Scenarios and Barometer. This will entail publishing of popular awareness-raising material and toolkits on various media platforms,” says Payi.

Additionally, several workshops will be hosted to trigger action among identified stakeholders representing various sectors.

These activities are part of Indlulamithi’s Strategic Goal 2 for the 2025 to 2029 period, namely advocate for and support social compacts that promote collaborative governance based on the Indlulamithi scenarios, he adds.

The board of trustees provides strategic oversight and governance for Indlulamithi. It safeguards the independence of the organisation’s research and scenario-planning work, while guiding Indlulamithi through the next phase of its 2025 to 2029 strategy.

Masela brings a decade of experience in the financial services, environmental, social and governance (ESG) and real estate-linked markets. He currently serves as financial services firm First National Bank Sustainability and ESG Solutions channel manager.

Tsita is an investment banking executive and fund manager with 20 years of experience across South African and global markets. She is a partner and director at investment management firm Tamela Capital Partners.

Further, Peter has 15 years of senior executive experience across philanthropy, education and entrepreneurship. She currently serves as the CEO of charity trust Allan & Gill Gray Philanthropy South Africa.

The research-based scenario foresight tools remain central to Indlulamithi’s work under its new leadership.

In the period ahead, the organisation will launch Conversations in Journeys into the Future, says Payi.

The dialogue series will be grounded in the 2035 Indlulamithi Scenarios and Barometer, and will be supported by workshops and awareness-raising aimed at stakeholders across South African society, he adds.