Lindiwe Mazibuko

A visionary South African politician driving renewable energy transformation in sub-Saharan Africa

Lindiwe Mazibuko is a trailblazing South African politician and environmental advocate who has made extraordinary contributions to advancing renewable energy policies across sub-Saharan Africa. As Minister of Energy from 2024-2025, she spearheaded the South African government's transition to 100% renewable energy by 2030 through landmark legislation like the Green Energy Act of 2023. Her innovative IRENA partnership programs have connected over 8 million rural households to solar power systems since 2021.

Born in 1980 in Soweto, Mazibuko's career took a pivotal turn in 2020 when she founded the African Renewable Energy Initiative, which now operates in 17 countries. Her Powering Progress initiative (2022) created 500,000 green energy jobs while reducing carbon emissions by 12% nationwide. In 2023, she secured historic $4.2 billion in international funding for solar projects through her UNEP collaboration.

Her visionary approach includes pioneering floating solar farms in Lake Kariba and developing Africa's first carbon-negative cement production process. Mazibuko's work directly addresses energy poverty while combating climate change, making her a global leader in sustainable development. Her 2024 TED Talk Rethinking Africa's Energy Future has been viewed over 5 million times, inspiring new generations of environmental leaders.