Grace Matlhape

Chief Executive Officer, SmartStart

Grace Matlhape is Chief Executive Officer of SmartStart.

SmartStart is a national early learning social franchise, launched in 2015, that trains and licenses women to run affordable early learning programmes for children aged three to five. It operates in all nine provinces and aims to reach 750 000 children a year by 2030.

In the job

  1. SmartStart was named a 2026 Skoll Award for Social Innovation winner. Source

Sources

  1. smartstart.org.za
  2. smartstart.org.za
  3. sagoodnews.co.za
  4. insights.economistenterprise.com

Facts last checked 3 November 2026. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.

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