South Africa: Young woman leader disrupting patriarchy from community justice to Parliament

This story follows young South African leader Zintle Khobeni de Lange, whose work bridges grassroots justice, survivor support, and political leadership. From rural villages to township spaces and national platforms, she is shifting harmful norms, empowering survivors, and challenging patriarchal systems from within governance structures. 

Zintle Khobeni de Lange is a young gender justice activist, community leader, and the Founder and Director of The Great People of South Africa (TGPSA). Her work spans rural communities in the Eastern Cape, township and informal settlement environments such as Khayelitsha, and emerging advocacy spaces in KwaZulu-Natal. Before her interventions, violence, exclusion, and silence were deeply normalised in many of these communities. Women and girls faced systemic barriers to reporting abuse, opening cases, accessing protection orders, or receiving trauma-informed support. Youth voices were rarely acknowledged, and governance structures often overlooked the lived realities of rural and marginalised communities. 
 
Her leadership disrupts these patterns. Through TGPSA, she built survivor-centred empowerment programmes that strengthen community understanding of rights, legal pathways, and available services. She led paralegal training, community legal education sessions, and created referral systems that have increased confidence in navigating police stations, courts, and social services. This has reduced fear, strengthened documentation, and enabled survivors to pursue justice with greater support. 
 
Digital storytelling and activism are central to her approach. By naming systemic failures and amplifying community experiences, she has pressured duty bearers to respond more effectively. Her advocacy emphasises that gender justice is a governance issue one that belongs at the heart of decision-making processes. 
 
Her leadership development journey through WOSSO and platforms such as the Futurelect Women in Public Office Fellowship strengthened her governance and advocacy capabilities. A major milestone was her decision to join the IFP, not as a passive participant but as a change-maker seeking to transform political spaces historically shaped by patriarchy. 
 
The impact is visible. Communities that once normalised violence are now questioning harmful norms, supporting survivor reporting, and demanding accountability. Youth participation in gender justice conversations has grown. Survivors are more informed, more confident, and better supported through justice processes. Recognition through awards such as WOSSO Storytelling for Change and RWVL-SA Driver of Change 2025 highlights the influence of her work. 
 
Sustainability is driven by community ownership. Zintle plans to expand paralegal training, build local leadership, and deepen multilingual, culturally relevant engagement. Her ability to communicate in eight South African languages strengthens inclusivity and community resonance. She also plans to contest upcoming local government elections as a ward councillor candidate. This transition from community leadership to formal governance is aimed at ensuring that local realities inform policies, budgets, and service delivery. 
 
Her long-term vision bridges grassroots action, political leadership, and feminist organising. By embedding survivor-centred governance into institutions, she works toward an intergenerational transformation that strengthens justice systems, challenges patriarchal power, and ensures that women and youth are central to decision-making. 
 

Quotes 
Pamela Klass - TGPSA beneficiary-"Before Zintle started working in our community, many of us did not know where to go when violence happened. She helped us understand our rights, and today women are stronger and no longer feel alone."

Mr Sibusiso Mpontshane - IFP National Organizer, "Zintle represents a new generation of leadership within the IFP. She brings courage, discipline, and deep community understanding into political spaces long closed to women."