Sello Hatang continues to establish himself as one of South Africa’s most thoughtful voices on justice, memory, and leadership. Through Re Hata Mmoho, the organisation he founded and leads as managing director, he combines archival expertise with strategic communication and human rights advocacy to address the country’s pressing challenges while inspiring meaningful dialogue.
Re Hata Mmoho, whose name translates as “We Walk Together”, has quickly become a platform for initiatives that bridge generations and sectors. Hatang uses it to nurture emerging leaders who prioritise empathy and purpose, while mobilising communities and corporates around sustainable social impact. The organisation’s work reflects his long-held belief that real change happens when elders’ wisdom meets youthful energy, creating movements rather than moments.
In 2025 Hatang has been particularly active as an opinion writer and public commentator. His recent columns reveal a communications strategist who crafts messages that challenge conventions without alienating audiences. In a November Sowetan piece on African leadership transitions, he argued for timely succession strengthens institutions and renews public trust, framing the conversation around ethical governance rather than personal power. An October column on the University of Fort Hare unrest called for addressing student hardships before they erupt, positioning education as the cornerstone of democratic stability. Earlier, in July, he wrote movingly about Mandela’s legacy demanding education for every child, sharing how Re Hata Mmoho and partners supported literacy and basic needs in Limpopo schools.
These interventions showcase Hatang the thought leader: someone who speaks with moral clarity while building bridges across divides. Whether engaging on radio discussions or penning reflections on global conflicts and local inequality, he consistently shifts mindsets toward shared humanity and collective responsibility. His November City Press column on the human dignity of zama zamas demonstrated this approach, advocating firm but ethical responses to crime that respect rights for all.
As an author and storyteller, Hatang remains deeply involved in the Trek4Mandela legacy. The 2025 coffee table book he co-authored with Richard Mabaso has been widely praised for chronicling over a decade of Kilimanjaro expeditions that fight period poverty and celebrate women’s resilience. The book serves as more than commemoration; it functions as a tool for leadership development, showing how physical challenges can build mental fortitude and social consciousness.
Hatang’s background as an archivist and heritage advocate informs everything he does. Having risen from project archivist to directing the South African History Archive and later leading communications at the Human Rights Commission, he understands memory as active rather than passive. At Re Hata Mmoho he applies this understanding practically, preserving stories that heal while using history to provoke necessary conversations about justice today.
What distinguishes Hatang’s current phase is his evolution into a servant leader who leads quietly yet impactfully. He no longer occupies the most visible institutional position, yet his influence has arguably grown. Through strategic partnerships and carefully crafted messaging he mobilises resources for literacy programmes, facilitates difficult national conversations, and mentors young leaders who combine passion with principle.
His public speaking engagements reveal the same qualities. Whether addressing corporate audiences on ethical leadership or facilitating community dialogues on social cohesion, Hatang creates spaces where people feel seen and challenged simultaneously. Audiences consistently describe leaving his sessions with renewed hope, not because he offers easy answers, but because he asks better questions.
As South Africa navigates complex social and political terrain, voices like Hatang’s become increasingly vital. He demonstrates that leadership need not be loud to be effective, that criticism can be constructive, and that hope is sustained through consistent action rather than grand gestures. Through Re Hata Mmoho he shows how one person, rooted in service and memory, can help a nation walk together toward renewal.
