The Temvelo Environmental Awards – Symposium & Expo brings together influential leaders, specialists, innovators, policymakers, and changemakers who are shaping the future of environmental action in South Africa.
Our speakers represent a powerful mix of experience, insight, and practical leadership across sustainability, conservation, climate response, community development, governance, and environmental innovation. Through their contributions, they help create meaningful dialogue, share valuable knowledge, and inspire collective action toward a greener, stronger, and more sustainable future.
Explore the profiles of the speakers who will contribute their expertise, perspectives, and leadership to this important national platform.
Sakhile Zakhele Nkambule (known simply as Sakhile) is an accomplished environmental entrepreneur and business leader. He serves as the Chairman of Basadi Group, a South African company at the forefront of sustainable solutions in construction and environmental management . With a passion for integrating eco-friendly products into mainstream construction, Sakhile has driven innovative approaches to environmental sustainability in his industry.
Leadership of Basadi Group and Environmental Mission
Sakhile co-founded Basadi Group, a fully black-owned and women-led organization that exemplifies empowerment and diversity in the environmental sector. Under his guidance, the company has positioned itself as a leading provider of customized solutions in fire protection, waste management, pest control, civil engineering, and industrial coating products . These solutions help clients incorporate sustainable, safe practices in construction and facilities management. Notably, the name “Basadi” means “women” in local Bantu languages , symbolizing the firm’s dedication to women empowerment and leadership. Sakhile’s team includes dynamic young professionals (the CEO of Basadi Group is a female environmental management graduate), reflecting the company’s ethos of inclusive
Professional Expertise and Development
Beyond his executive role, Sakhile is a technically skilled professional. He is a qualified fire mechanical artisan, which means he has hands-on expertise in fire protection systems and safety equipment. In practice, he has experience with the commissioning of advanced fire detection systems and the reconditioning of critical firefighting equipment – crucial skills in preventing and managing fire hazards in industrial settings. Sakhile continues to advance his specialization; he is currently pursuing further studies to qualify as a designer of fire suppression engineering systems.
Awards and Recognition
Under Sakhile’s visionary leadership, Basadi Group’s growth and innovation have garnered significant national recognition. In 2023, the company was honored as finalists in the prestigious Nedbank Top Empowerment Awards, a platform recognizing South Africa’s top performers in transformation and empowerment:
• Top Empowerment Awards 2023 – Fast Growth Black-Owned SMME of the Year: Basadi Group was a finalist in this category
• Top Empowerment Awards 2023 – Top Empowered Entrepreneur of the Year: Sakhile himself was a finalist for this individual award, recognizing his excellence as a business leader who drives empowerment and innovation .
Mr. Luvuyo Jongile holds a Master’s degree in Communication Science and has over 15 years of experience spanning both the private and public sectors. Throughout his career, he has led impactful regional and national marketing and communications initiatives, developed comprehensive stakeholder engagement strategies, and managed high-level media relations. His expertise has been applied across prominent institutions including the Department of Human Settlements, the Small Enterprise Development & Finance Agency (SEDFA), the South African Local Government Association (SALGA), and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). Mr. Jongile is known for his strategic acumen, leadership in integrated communications, and commitment to driving meaningful public engagement.
The Temvelo Environmental Awards – Symposium & Expo is honoured to feature a distinguished group of speakers who bring together knowledge, leadership, and practical experience across environmental affairs, sustainability, governance, innovation, and community impact.
Each speaker contributes a unique perspective to the national conversation, helping to inspire collaboration, share valuable insights, and strengthen collective action toward a more sustainable South Africa.
