About us - Ria Ledwaba Foundation

Purpose

The Ria Ledwaba Foundation is dedicated to empowering society’s most vulnerable by connecting opportunity with potential. We are committed to ensuring that disadvantaged individuals - especially young women and men in sports in rural areas - receive the support, mentorship, and resources needed to overcome systemic barriers. Through financial aid, advocacy, and empowerment, we strive to promote dignity, resilience, and long-term success, ensuring that no individual is left behind due to hardship or lack of opportunity.

Vision

To build a South Africa where every young person, regardless of background, has the opportunity to thrive, compete professionally, and contribute meaningfully to society through sports. We envision a future where education, empowerment, and equal access to resources uplift communities, unlocking the full potential of the next generation. This will foster a lasting legacy of excellence, integrity, and positive social change.

Mission

Our mission is to support disadvantaged individuals, particularly young women and men in rural areas involved in sports, by providing mentorship, resources, and guidance to help them overcome systemic challenges. Through financial assistance, advocacy, and empowerment, we aim to foster dignity, resilience, and lasting success, ensuring that no one is held back by hardship or lack of opportunity.

About Ria Ledwaba

She is the founder of Ifihlile Training Academy, which has been training technicians in refrigeration and air conditioning since 2008. A pioneer in male-dominated fields, she also founded Ria Stars Football Club, which competed in the Premier Soccer League (PSL), and played a key role in establishing South Africa’s first Women’s National League. She has held influential positions in South African football, including as a member of the SAFA National Executive Committee; Vice-President of SAFA; Chairperson of Women’s Football at SAFA; member of the PSL Board of Governors; and Match Commissioner for the Confederation of African Football (CAF). She was also appointed by the Minister of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, to serve on the Eminent Persons Group (EPG) to monitor sport transformation in South Africa. A multi-award-winning businesswoman and sports leader, she received numerous accolades, including Shoprite-Checkers SABC3 Businesswoman of the Year in 1999, and a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019 from the Gauteng Sports Awards. After experiencing emotional and mental abuse in the boardroom, she founded her own foundation to combat gender-based violence and support women and youth in overcoming adversity. Her work focuses on empowering South African youth to pursue their goals in sport and education while helping women navigate and overcome abuse.

Our Goals

We are a South African based foundation, established by Ria Ledwaba with an ambition to make a difference in South Africa in one of the following ways: