A new national campaign, 10,000 Reasons to Believe in South Africa’s Future, is calling on people across the country to step forward to support leadership in South Africa’s public schools.
The initiative is premised on the idea that decisive action by ordinary people, even in small numbers, can support school leadership. Strong, supported leaders enable schools to function more effectively, improve teaching and learning, and ultimately strengthen communities and the country.
It comes at a time when school leaders across South Africa’s more than 24,000 public schools, serving over 12 million learners, are struggling to focus on their core leadership roles.
In June, the Governing Body Foundation’s (GBF) National Survey Report (2026) exposed the scale of the strain on school leadership, showing that nearly 60% of public school principals say administrative overload is now pushing them to consider leaving the profession altogether. The report also found that 84% of principals are forced to complete administrative work after hours, while more than 70% say compliance demands are actively eroding their ability to lead schools effectively. These include focusing on teaching quality, staff development and school improvement.
A sudden exodus of school principals would have severe consequences for the education system, stripping it of experienced leadership, undermining school stability and adding further strain to already overburdened schools.
The campaign was conceptualised by Citizen Leader Lab, a South African non-profit organisation, in response to mounting evidence of pressure on school leadership. The organisation develops leadership capacity by supporting public school through partnerships with experienced private sector leaders.
Since 2010, Citizen Leader Lab has facilitated over 2,000 of these public-private partnerships and reached over 2,000 schools across South Africa, operating in both urban and rural regions.
Public participation
South Africa is home to more than 63 million people. The campaign therefore asks just 0.016% of the population to take part. That’s fewer people than the workforce of many large corporations — and even fewer than a sold-out soccer stadium crowd at the Soweto Derby or a World Cup match.
Funds raised will go toward supporting school leaders in under-resourced areas through an internationally recognised, award-winning leadership development methodology offered by Citizen Leader Lab.
‘’After 16 years of working with leaders in South Africa’s public institutions, we know that that society expects a great deal from our school leaders, but we commit far less to developing them. What would change if we reversed that equation?” said Dorcas Dube, Marketing and Communications for Citizen Leader Lab
“It’s not about a single organisation, or a single donor, solving a problem. It’s about making people aware that that they don’t need a title or special status to be part of supporting the leadership that keeps our schools functioning, communities thriving and South Africa moving forward.
“We see every day how much pressure school leaders are under, but we also see what changes when they are supported. This campaign is about making that support something realistic and doable,” Dube added.
The campaign is now open and will run across Citizen Leader Lab’s digital platforms. Individuals who contribute will be recognised by name on a donor wall curated by Citizen Leader Lab and will become part of The Citizen Circle, an expanding community of South Africans actively backing school leadership in public schools.
Be one of the 10,000. Join The Citizen Circle: https://citizenleaderlab.org/the-citizen-circle/
About Citizen Leader Lab
Citizen Leader Lab is a South African non-profit organisation focused on developing ethical, practical leadership across education and other public sectors. Through long-term partnerships and collaborative learning, Citizen Leader Lab works with leaders in complex and resource-constrained environments to strengthen systems and support sustained change.