Babalwa Atalanta Fatyi

Babalwa is the founder and director of Myezo Environmental Management Services (Pty) Ltd, established in 2005. She is an internationally registered auditor with a Master of Science (Cum Laude) (1999, University of the Witwatersrand) and, more recently, a BA in Arts from the Global School of Theology, USA.

She is the visionary, the anchor, and the eyes of the companies she leads, providing strategic direction while ensuring that all support pillars are fully functional and compliant. At the same time, she designs systems that enable operational teams to achieve their deliverables.

She often leads multidisciplinary expert teams to provide solutions for the entire sustainable development value chain — from authorisations to implementation and monitoring — for large-scale projects across various sectors, with specialisation in the mining industry.

Babalwa’s vision, as a South African female business owner and entrepreneur, is to be a voice of consciousness and an instrument of change in the manner in which developments and environmental matters are handled. She is also spearheading industry succession planning and unlocking human capital value through mentoring, as a founding director of the Myezo Growth and Development Institute — a non-profit organisation dedicated to this conviction.

Her vision has supported several scientists in attaining their professional scientific registration. She has shared her sustainability insights at various national and international scientific knowledge-sharing platforms and has been published in scientific journals. Her analytical thinking and problem-solving skills — including drawing well-reasoned conclusions from complex data, recognising emerging problems, and addressing them effectively — culminated in her being honoured with the South African Association for the Advancement of Science Award for an outstanding MSc degree in the Faculty of Science in 1999.

In addition, she is the author of poetry books that promote sustainable ways of unlocking natural resource capital while upholding principles of coexistence. She has authored three poetry books that address themes of sustainability, heritage and legacy, social cohesion, and economic emancipation. She performs her poetry when there is a message best delivered in that form, and her books are also published in audio format.

These same poetic expressions now flow into poetic garments designed to adorn the human core and promote environmental consciousness through fashion. She provides strategic direction to her fashion house, ZenQ Core Fashion Designs (ZenQ), which she founded to create clothes with a voice.

She values natural capital and understands fashion’s dependency on it. She leads with a focus on ensuring that the entire value chain is understood and that the lifecycle from cradle to grave is promoted. Her non-profit organisation has therefore formed a strategic alliance with the Vintage Recycling Project.

Even before being honoured as one of Africa’s Most Influential Women in the Arts and Culture Sector (2015–2016), in Professional Services (2017–2018), and later as a Regional Winner for SADC South in the SME Sector (2019–2020), she had already put tangible expression to womanhood — dedicating her life to walking with intention, respect, and pride on the path paved by stalwarts before her. She is grateful for, and has graciously received, honours from many other respected organisations, including the Black Business Quarterly Awards.

She intends to continue using both the written and spoken word — as a poet and published author — to honour the efforts of our people through expressions that move hearts and encourage us all to take positive, sustainable steps towards active citizenship for the betterment of our country and the world.

BOOKS BY Babalwa Atalanta Fatyi

“Impacting lives with Christian literature”

When the Mulberry Trees are uprooted

This book is intended to encourage all humanity, to reflect on their lives and to rebuild any ruins, on a strong foundation by uprooting those things that hinder us from achieving a life of hope. It matters not where we find ourselves but if we are rooted in the truth of God, we will surely bear fruit.
We all have various talents and gifts that we have been ordained with, and need the zeal and faith to use them, for the expansion of the kingdom of excellence, hope, light and truth, but if we are entangled in turmoil such as lack of peace, social injustices, the faith to excel might dwindle and disappear.
It is in those moments that I hope my book guides us to confront those difficult situations and allow the truth of God to propel us forward into a life.

Greetings from My Core

Just like the principle of greeting is about acknowledging others, ‘Greetings from my core” is about acknowledgement of our presence, our being, as well as songs and aspirations, travels, victories, and supernatural encounters of our core. The essence of our being has many stories to tell and share and no longer has to remain submerged within the oceans of our uncertainties. My aspirations are about life experiences, the depth of our being and the revelation that I am more than my physicality.

Hlahl’indlela

Hlahl’indlela Nohombile is a poetry book that celebrates our rich linguistic heritage while serving as a powerful platform for cultural expression. It promotes awareness of our languages as a source of pride and spreads messages of hope, encouraging active citizenship. The book addresses pressing socio-economic issues such as poverty and injustice, inspiring change and uplifting communities. Produced in collaboration with the National Heritage Council, Babalwa’s evocative verses explore heritage pride and the importance of engaging with our unique backgrounds.

Complemented by a video production, the project raises awareness about environmental stewardship, socio-economic challenges, and governance, all while reflecting on our spiritual significance under the Timeless Authority of God. Ultimately, the book honors the past, celebrates the present, and envisions a future where marginalized voices are uplifted, sustainability is a way of life, and the legacy of our actions endures for generations. The video was produced within the Jumba Traditional Council under the leadership of Chief Nokhaka.