Tomorrow, 19 August, the University of Fort Hare (UFH) will host the 8th Annual Archbishop Thabo Makgoba Lecture, with the Executive Director of the Border-Kei Chamber of Business (BKCOB) and award-winning entrepreneur, Lizelle Maurice, taking the stage. Her talk, titled “The Role of Effective Collaboration in the Development of Local Economies & Thriving Communities,” promises to spark conversation on how partnerships and leadership can drive real change in communities.
Organized by the Faculty of Management and Commerce, the Makgoba Lecture is more than just a talk, it’s a legacy. Endowed by Archbishop Thabo Makgoba, his wife Lungi, and the Trustees of the Archbishop Thabo Makgoba Development Trust (ATMD), the lecture honours their parents and champions principled leadership.
Since 2018, it has provided a platform for dialogue on leadership in local economic development, while highlighting education, skills, and entrepreneurial growth opportunities.
Previous speakers of the lecture at UFH include esteemed leaders such as Ms Thokozile Xasa, then Minister of Sport and Recreation; Dr Lulu Gwagwa, South Africa’s first black Town Planner; and Dr Pali Lehohla, South Africa’s former and longest-serving Statistician-General.
Lizelle Maurice is the perfect voice for this conversation. Born on 18 May 1970 in Lady Frere, she grew up on a farm near Queenstown, shaped by a father who ran a trading store and a mother of unwavering faith. Her early lessons in entrepreneurship came from working alongside her family, long before she earned awards or accolades.
Lizelle’s career is as diverse as it is inspiring. From nursing to business administration, from managing AMC Classic’s Eastern Cape operations, where she earned the title “Top Manager in South Africa” in 2012, to running her family-owned hospitality venture, Park Place Boutique Guesthouse, she has always embraced challenges head-on.
Her ventures have earned her recognition nationally, including the Lilizela Awards for Emerging Tourism Entrepreneur and the Tsogo Sun Entrepreneur of the Year accolade.
But her story is about more than awards. Lizelle is a mentor, a connector, and a champion of women in business. She has led the Businesswomen’s Association, served as Provincial Chairperson for Women in Tourism, and sat on multiple boards. She is also a certified Etiquette, Image and Communications Coach and a John Maxwell Leadership Trainer.
Tomorrow, she will share lessons from her journey and explore how collaboration can fuel local economies and create thriving communities. The lecture is expected to draw students, academics, and business leaders alike and anyone interested in leadership that truly makes a difference.
Event Details:
Date – 19 August 2025
Venue – Miriam Makeba Arts Centre (East London Campus)
Time: 14:00