Who we are
Jonas’s political-economic activism has defined his career. He is recognised for his courage in the face of state capture, for his articulation of a compelling vision that unites economic prosperity and economic justice, and for his ability to bring people together in the service of focused, transformative action. Jonas served as Deputy Minister of Finance from 2014 to 2017. During the anti-apartheid years he led a number of political activities both within South Africa and in exile. He helped establish the United Democratic Front (UDF) in the Eastern Cape. Upon his return from exile in the 1990’s, Jonas helped to establish the ruling African National Congress (ANC) structures in the Eastern Cape. More recently, he played a central role in the civic activism against state capture. Before his appointment to national government, Jonas held several leadership positions in the Eastern Cape government. He helped establish key state institutions in the province, including the Eastern Cape Development Corporation, the Coega Industrial Development Zone and the East London Industrial Development Zone. He served as Chairperson and Non-Executive Director of the Public Investment Corporation while he was deputy finance minister and is one of four Presidential Investment Envoys, appointed by President Cyril Ramaphosa to attract investment to South Africa. He is Chairperson of MTN and sits on the boards of several other listed companies.
Vicki is the director of the Centre for Change. She is a former investigative and political journalist and a financial crime specialist. Before joining Jonas in the civic space in 2017, she was head of the Financial Intelligence Unit for HSBC, South Africa. She worked previously at Standard Chartered Bank as head of Corporate Affairs for Southern Africa. Before that she worked in the business intelligence sector based in London and sub-Saharan Africa. She was an investigative and political journalist at the Mail & Guardian between 2001 and 2007.
Faith is from Johannesburg, South Africa, and completed her undergraduate degree in Viticulture and Oenology and a Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing at Stellenbosch University. She is interested in the nature of institutional change as it relates to governance and is currently completing a Masters in Organisational and Institutional Studies at Wits with the Public Affairs Research Institute (PARI). Her research is on local government and decentralization; exploring the political and bureaucratic incentives and behaviours that drive and influence such reforms. She brings with expertise in program management, campaign building, research, and strategic advisory services. Faith also serves as a Board Member for Africa’s first solar powered cinema network, Sunshine Cinema.
Zwikhodo is personal assistant to Mcebisi Jonas and the office manager for the Centre for Change. She holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Media Studies from the University of Venda. She also holds a Business Communications & Public Relations NQF Level 6 Certificate from UNISA. Zwikhodo has eight years experience in media management, external and internal communications, radio broadcasting and print media. Prior to joining the CFC she worked for six year for the National Treasury as a Communications Specialist. She previously worked as a communications officer at the University of Venda and at Capricorn FM radio as a news reporter.
Murray Michell is a founding director of the Centre for Change. He is an advisor to Minister of Public Enterprises, Pravin Gordhan. He is the former Director of the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC), South Africa’s national centre established to identify proceeds of crime, combat money laundering, and the financing of terrorism and, in so doing, has a primary role to protect the integrity of South Africa’s financial system. Michell established the FIC in 2001 and served as the head until 2017. In 2013, Michell was elected chair of the Egmont Group consisting of financial intelligence units from over 150 countries. In 2018, he was appointed to serve on a Presidential high-level review panel into the work of the State Security Agency (SSA).
