Phapano Phasha

Phapano Phasha (born 27 September 1980) is a South African political strategist, communications consultant, and Pan-African commentator. She is the founder and CEO of the strategic communications firm PM Phasha Consulting, the founder of the media platform Global Africa Media, and the chairperson of the Centre for Alternative Political and Economic Thought. A former senior official within the African National Congress (ANC), Phasha is now a prominent voice on global affairs, with a focus on South-South cooperation, BRICS, geopolitics, and Africa's strategic positioning in a multipolar world. Her work, particularly her alignment with leaders critical of Western influence, has placed her at the center of public debate, and she is recognized as a significant figure in political communication and perception management in Africa.

Early life and education

Phapano Phasha was born in Dobsonville, Soweto, to Peter Matsobane Phasha and Margret Mooki Phasha. She identifies as a Morolong in recognition of her matriarchal clan name and is a descendant of Chief Montshioa, a founding figure of the ANC, belonging to the Montshioa family of the Barolong tribe—a lineage with a deep history in media, politics and publishing, including figures such as Sol Plaatjie and Silas Molema. She began her formal education at Dr. Mary Malahlela Primary School and completed her secondary education, matriculating from Kwa-Mahlobo High School. Phasha holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Science with a specialization in Organisational Communication from the University of South Africa (UNISA). She also completed professional qualifications in Project Management and undertook executive studies in Chinese Economic Theory at Renmin University of China.

Career

Political career within the ANC

Phasha joined the African National Congress and its Youth League in 2000, commencing a 23-year tenure. Her most recent and senior position within the party was as the head of Monitoring and Evaluation, Research, and Communication for the ANC's Johannesburg region. She was a staunch supporter and defender of former President Jacob Zuma. In 2021, she was among the prominent figures, alongside Carl Niehaus and Andile Lungisa, who publicly mobilized against his arrest. During the ANC's 2017 leadership succession, she was a leading supporter of Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma and was appointed as a spokesperson for the Progressive Professionals Forum (PPF), a group that championed Dlamini-Zuma's candidacy. In 2023, Phasha publicly resigned from the ANC. Her resignation statement highlighted a principled stand against institutional corruption and a belief that the party had strayed from the values of its founders.

Controversies

Phasha's allegiances and work have frequently attracted controversy. She has been described in media reports as a propagandist for her strategic support of African leaders who are critical of Western foreign policy. Her critics have drawn connections between her work and that of the billionaire Gupta family of India and London based PR firm, Bell Pottinger, central figures in a major South African influence-peddling scandal.

In response, Phasha has argued that her stance is a principled defence of African sovereignty She maintains that the continent is still controlled by former colonial powers and external actors who fund conflicts and promote pro-Western leaders to maintain control over Africa's resources and political direction. It is notable that despite her reputation and the nature of these public debates, Phasha has never been formally accused or found guilty of any corruption by a judicial or legal body. She frames the criticism against her as a reaction to her unwavering allegiance to progressive African leaders who are targeted by Western powers.