Board Member
Busisiwe Nandipha Nxumalo (they/the) is a human rights and youth activist, policy strategist, and development practitioner with over 10 years of experience , recently appointed to the Board of the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) in 2025. As the first openly queer board member, they bring a pioneering perspective to the Agency’s work, driving inclusion, equality, and institutional transformation within South Africa’s youth development ecosystem. A passionate advocate for social justice, Busisiwe has contributed to building societies that are equitable at socioeconomic and political levels.  

Their extensive experience in youth, student, and political organisations, paired with strong academic grounding in International Relations and Political Studies, has positioned them as a grounded strategist and implementor. They actively engage across community, government, and international spheres, influencing dialogue and policy across the African continent.  

In their capacity as Chairperson of the ICTS Committee, Busisiwe leads the NYDA’s digital transformation and innovation strategy, ensuring that technology adoption strengthens institutional efficiency, transparency, and youth empowerment. They also serve on several critical committees that reinforce the Agency’s governance and developmental mandate:  

Human Resources and Remuneration Committee: Overseeing equitable staff management, performance systems, and remuneration structures aligned with national legislation and institutional fairness.  

Audit and Risk Committee: Strengthening accountability through rigorous financial oversight, internal controls, and risk management processes.  

Transformation and Inclusion Committee: Champions structural transformation, diversity, and equity in line with South Africa’s development priorities, while mainstreaming gender, disability, and LGBTIQA+ inclusion across NYDA programmes to promote access and participation for marginalised youth.  

Busisiwe’s public policy and advocacy work extend beyond institutional governance. As Policy, Advocacy and Stakeholder Engagement Coordinator at the Southern African Liaison Office (SALO), they have facilitated highlevel dialogues between government, civil society, and international partners. Their advocacy played a pivotal role in the development and passage of the Prevention and Combating of Hate Crimes and Hate Speech Act.  

Through SALO, Busisiwe coordinated multi-stakeholder engagements and facilitated youth consultations that informed the Bill’s content. They personally drafted and proposed amendments to strengthen the law’s protection mechanisms and spearheaded the LGBTQIA+ Desk submission to Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Justice. These interventions ensured that the legislation reflected the lived realities of LGBTIQA+ communities, women, and other vulnerable groups. Through this and other campaigns, Busisiwe has contributed to advancing South Africa’s human rights agenda, deepening democratic participation, and creating safer, more inclusive communities.  

Their engagements have spanned national and international platforms, including collaboration with diplomats, NGOs, civil society coalitions, political representatives, and government officials. They have worked to build consensus on foreign policy, strengthen North–South partnerships, combat xenophobia, and promote migration justice.  

Busisiwe’s research and written analyses have informed speeches, policy briefs, and reports used by political leaders, think tanks, and advocacy organisations. A Mandela Washington Fellow (2023) and University of Cape Town alumnus, they continue to champion participatory governance, intersectional equality, and youth-driven innovation across Africa.