Spokesperson: ANC youth League; COO: National youth Development Agency

As the media-savvy spokesperson of the ANC Youth League and chief operations officer of the National Youth Development Agency, 33-year- old Magdalene Moonsamy is a socioeconomic and political activist, feminist and fighter for youth development. Her activism was inspired in her childhood by the injustices of apartheid and heroes like Chris Hani who “demonstrated selflessness at all times”.

She joined the youth league in 1998 while studying law at the University of Durban-Westville. Elected on to its national executive committee in 2004, she has been the league’s spokesperson since 2009. She is passionate about the role youth played in our past and will play in our future and is committed through various roles to fighting their struggles against poverty, inequality and unemployment. Defined by her beliefs in justice and integrity, she is committed to speaking the truth, being an agent of change in the lives of the oppressed and fighting for freedom in all its forms.

— Lu Larche

Twitter: @MaggieMoonsamy