Phuti Mahanyele-Dabengwa is a highly respected South African business executive.
She made history as the first black and female CEO of Naspers South Africa and the first black woman to have ever run a JSE-listed top-40 company.
Before joining Naspers, she held several prominent positions, including CEO of the Shanduka Group and co-founder and CEO of Sigma Capital.
Throughout her career, Mahanyele, a trailblazer in a male-dominated industry, has been recognized for her leadership and contributions to business, including being named Forbes Africa’s “Business Woman of the Year” in 2014 and CNBC Africa’s All Africa Business Leaders “Woman of the Year” in 2019.
Forbes describes her as one of the most successful and richest self-made entrepreneurs in South Africa.
This is her profile as told by WOA:
Phuti Mahanyele-Dabengwa’s Net Worth
Phuti Mahanyele-Dabengwa’s net worth is not publicly disclosed, but estimates suggest it could be around $10 million.
Her wealth is attributed to her leadership positions in major companies like Naspers and Sigma Capital, as well as her previous role as CEO of Shanduka Group.
She has played a key role in founding and leading various companies throughout her career, including:
- Sigma Capital: Founded in 2015, Sigma Capital is a private equity firm where Mahanyele-Dabengwa served as the Executive Chairperson. The firm focuses on investments in various sectors, including infrastructure and energy.
- Shanduka Group: Although not founded by her, Mahanyele-Dabengwa was the CEO of Shanduka Group from 2004 to 2015. This investment holding company was co-founded by Cyril Ramaphosa and focuses on investments across multiple sectors, including energy, resources, and telecommunications.
- Gigajoule Africa (Pty) Ltd.: She serves as the Chairman of this company, which is involved in energy supply and infrastructure development across Africa.
- Bain & Company South Africa: Mahanyele-Dabengwa holds the position of Chairman at this management consulting firm, which is part of the global Bain & Company network.
Additionally, she has held leadership roles in other prominent companies such as Naspers South Africa, Vodacom, Discovery Insure, and Gold Fields.
Phuti Mahanyele-Dabengwa’s Education Qualifications
Phuti’s educational accolades are as impressive as her entrepreneurial achievements.
She holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics, which she earned from Douglass College at Rutgers University in New Jersey, USA, in 1993.
Additionally, she holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from De Montfort University in the United Kingdom, which she completed in 1996.
Phuti Mahanyele-Dabengwa’s Success Journey
Phuti Mahanyele-Dabengwa was born and raised in Soweto, South Africa, in the early 1970s.
Coincidentally, Soweto has also produced icons like Nelson Mandela, Trevor Noah, and Richard Maponya.
She attended McAuley House Convent for her schooling, where she faced challenges, including adapting to a predominantly different socio-economic environment.
After completing her MBA, she enrolled in an executive leadership program at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, which she completed in 2008.
Mahanyele began her professional career in the finance sector, gaining valuable experience at various institutions, including the African National Congress (ANC) in the Department of Economic Planning.
In 2002, she joined MTN Group, where she held several executive roles, including Executive Head of the International Division and CEO of MTN South Africa.
During her tenure, she played a crucial role in expanding the company’s operations across Africa and enhancing its growth strategy.
From 2004 to 2015, she served as CEO of Shanduka Group, an investment holding company co-founded by Cyril Ramaphosa.
After Shanduka, she co-founded Sigma Capital in 2016 and served as its Executive Chairperson until 2019.
In July 2019, Mahanyele-Dabengwa made history by becoming the CEO of Naspers South Africa, the first woman to hold this position.
She has since focused on driving digital transformation and sustainable growth within the company.
She has also held senior positions at Fieldstone and the Development Bank of South Africa.
Beyond her corporate responsibilities, Mahanyele serves on several boards, including the World Economic Forum’s Africa Regional Strategy Group and the African Leadership Academy.
Phuti Mahanyele-Dabengwa’s Family
Phuti Mahanyele-Dabengwa is married to Sifiso Dabengwa, a well-known figure in the South African corporate landscape.
Sifiso was the former CEO of MTN Group from 2011 to 2015 and served on the board of Eskom, South Africa’s state-owned electricity supplier.
He was born in Zimbabwe and was recognized as one of South Africa’s wealthiest individuals during his career.
Tragically, Sifiso Dabengwa passed away from cancer on September 1, 2024. He is survived by Phuti and their four children.
