Thato Mphuthi

A blue gradient background with navy text has “The D-30 Disability Impact List” at the top centered above “2023 Honoree” which is in between two laurels. The words “Thato Mphuthi; South Africa” are to the left of a picture of Thato, which fills the right. Thato is a dark-skinned woman wearing a purple shirt and jacket smiling with her arms crossed. At the bottom, “Diversability, #D30DisList.” fills the left corner.

Thato Mphuthi (she/her/hers)

Disability Justice Advocate and Founder, Enabled Enlightenment

South Africa

Thato Mphuthi founded Enabled Enlightenment, an organization that focuses on disability empowerment, justice, and reproductive health. Thato has exhibited remarkable resilience and determination in her advocacy work to uplift disabled young people and raise awareness about disabilities. Through her public speaking and community engagement, she has become a powerful voice for the disabled community in South Africa, shedding light on the barriers they face and striving for inclusivity and understanding. Understanding the intersecting dimensions of gender, disability, and social inequality, she advocates to ensure that discussions and initiatives recognize the various intersecting identities within the disabled community. 

She was awarded the South African Heroes Award for her work in community development and has also been nominated for a Woman of Stature Award and for the JCI Ten Outstanding Young Persons programme.