The Add IDEAS Podcast
Bandile Mndebele
Recent Episodes
Learn how Bongani Mapumulo is transforming accessibility and innovation for students living with disabilities in low-income communities in the Global South on this podcast conversation featuring disability rights, inclusive innovation, and assistive technology trends.
đď¸ About This Episode
In this episode, we talk to Bongani Mapumulo, a leading disability rights advocate and champion of inclusive innovation in South Africa. Bongani shares a personal and professional journey shaped by systemic challenges, transformative learning, and a passion for social and redistributive justice.
With a robust background in Political Science, Sociology, Social Anthropology, and advanced diplomas in Disability & Rehabilitation and Intercultural Communication from Stellenbosch University, Bongani is currently pursuing a Master of Philosophy in Inclusive Innovation at the UCT Graduate School of Business.Â
His pioneering research focuses on advancing assistive technologies and inclusive design within low- and middle-income contexts, promoting universal access as a foundation for equity and human dignity.
đ In this episode, we cover:
- (00:00) - Introduction
- (00:20) - Personal Story
- (01:47) - Challenges and Activism in Student Life
- (05:17) - Institutional Preparedness and Accessibility
- (07:06) - Assistive Technology and Support
- (12:25) - Reasonable Accommodation and Equity
- (22:36) - Intersectionality and Lived Experiences
- (27:48) - Personal Story and Impact
- (28:50) - Navigating Identity and Spaces
- (30:25) - Challenges and Opportunities in Education
- (38:54) - Representation and Inclusion
- (41:24) - Influence of Supportive Figures
- (42:33) - The Importance of Early Belief
- (43:49) - Grassroots Representation
- (44:00) - Unheard Voices and Broader Solutions
- (45:55) - Final Thoughts
âśď¸ Listen Now & Subscribe
Enjoyed this? Hit follow on Spotify or Apple Podcasts or Subscribe on YouTube to never miss powerful stories. Whether youâre leading a team or just trying to lead your life without emotionally buffering, youâre in good company here.
Referenced works
This episode mentions material from Physical Disability and Sexuality: Stories from South Africa (2021), edited by Xanthe Hunt, Stine Hellum Braathen, Mussa Chiwaula, Mark T. Carew, Poul Rohleder, and Leslie Swartz, published by Springer Nature under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).Â
Explore Bongani Mapumulo's contributions in Chapter 6 (Physical Disability and Masculinity: Hegemony and Exclusion) and Chapter 7 (Bonganiâs Story), whose personal experiences and insights on disability and transformation feature in this discussion.
Available: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-55567-2
Notable ThanksÂ
- Carl & Emily Fuchs Foundation
- Bertha Centre for Social Innovation & Entrepreneurship
- UCT's Centre for Innovation in Learning and Teaching One Button StudiosÂ
 Connect with Bongani
đ§ For Speaking & Partnerships
Host Bandile Mndebele is available for speaking, collaborations, features, workshops, and partnership opportunities. To connect, reach out on LinkedIn or via [email protected].
Creators & Guests
- Bandile Mndebele - Host
- Bongani Mapumulo - Guest
It's just us today and what a season this was. Also, we got listed on The Top 100 Outstanding Role Model Lists supported by INvolve and YouTube.
Join us for the season wrap-up and key calls to action.
00:00 - To More Top Moments
00:30 - 2024 Top Lessons
02:28 - Showing up on people's issues
05:20 - Psychological safety and values
06:40 - BTS
07:55 - What we can still do
đ You can view the full lists here: https://bit.ly/3Anx93M
In case you missed it:
- Share your thoughts on the topics discussed in this episode on social media using the hashtag #addideas.
- You can subscribe to or follow the podcast to stay updated on future episodes and milestones.
- Leave a review for the show on your favourite podcast platform.
My friend, what should be happening to resolve the problems South Africans face with spaza shops?Â
Want to find the right niche?
Today, we delve deep into the multifaceted world of entrepreneurship, exploring the challenges and opportunities that shape the landscape for modern business owners and reflecting on South Africa's potentially limiting identity crisis.
Join us as we sit down with Avelile Nontanda, the founder and CEO of Mayhem Digital with more than 10 years of experience helping businesses and brands live their best digital lives from Google to social media and father. Avelile gets candid about shared realities such as dealing with Black Tax, not-so-friendly spaza shops and the importance of a self-reliant economy.Â
We discuss the challenges and opportunities facing entrepreneurs today, the importance of a strong brand identity, and the power of digital marketing.Â
In this conversation, we'll cover:
00:00 - Finding Your Niche: Being a Jack of All Trades, Master of NicheÂ
06:25 - The Google Dilemma and Exploring Ownership
15:51 - Dealing with âPull Him/Her Downâ Syndrome and The Discount Mentality
21:29 - Finding a Balance After Groove and Equal Focus
26:10 - First World and Third World FallaciesÂ
29:15 - Black Tax is Good and Bad at the Same Time
40:54 - Digital Nomads, Why start in Cape Town, and Can Looks Be Deceiving?
Resources:
- Mayhem Digital
- Follow Avelile Nontanda on LinkedIn
- Listen to the related episode 8 with Melilizwe Gqobo
- Google's market dominance and antitrust
- Microsoft and ChatGPT are not what Elon Musk intended
- The Evolution of Spaza shops
- Spaza shop food health inflicting children and who to blame
Call to Action:
- Share your thoughts on the topics discussed in this episode on social media using the hashtag #addideas.
- You can subscribe to or follow the podcast to stay updated on future episodes and milestones.
- Leave a review for the show on your favourite podcast platform.
