Twenty Years of Mazi Asset Management and the Journey Ahead

Two decades after its first mandate, Mazi celebrates the people, partnerships and purpose that shaped its journey.

On 1 October, 20 years to the day since Mazi Asset Management was founded, we gathered at The Forum in Hyde Park with clients, partners and the Mazi Mavericks to celebrate the milestone.

It was an opportunity to reflect on where Mazi began, how far the business has come and the legacy we hope to build for generations to come.

Courage and the Tenacity to Dream

Opening the evening, Malungelo Zilimbola recounted Mazi beginnings and the journey that began in 2006 with the firm's first hedge fund mandate.

What started as a single mandate became the foundation for a business that has continued to evolve, grow its investment capabilities and build enduring relationships across the industry. Today, Mazi manages multi-asset, global, Africa and domestic equity, fixed income, hedge fund, property and Shariah-compliant mandates.

Malungelo had the courage and tenacity to turn that initial vision into reality. Twenty years later, Mazi has created employment and growth opportunities while establishing itself as a worthy challenger in the financial services sector. Its journey is also a reminder of the conviction, perseverance and trust required to build an enduring business.

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A Celebration of Partnership

The evening brought together clients, consultants, investment partners and industry colleagues who have played a part in Mazi’s story over the past 20 years.

Among the distinguished guests were Sizwe Nxasana, Professor Edward Kieswetter and Ambassador Barbara Masekela, alongside long-standing and valued clients, consultants and partners from across the investment industry.

Their presence was a meaningful reminder that asset management remains a people-centred business. The relationships built over two decades, and the trust our partners continue to place in us, have been central to Mazi’s growth.

Trust Is Our Most Valuable Currency

In his keynote address, Professor Kieswetter spoke powerfully about the importance of trust and honesty in business, describing trust as one of its most valuable currencies.

That message carries particular weight in asset management, where clients entrust managers with their capital and long-term financial objectives. Confidence can take years to build and be lost in an instant, making integrity central to every client engagement and long-term partnership.

As the Client Service team, doing the right thing and protecting the confidence our clients place in Mazi is pivotal to building enduring relationships and a business that can continue to thrive well beyond the individuals who built it.

Launching the Mazi Foundation

Perhaps the most significant moment of the evening was the launch of the Mazi Foundation, marking an important evolution in Mazi's purpose beyond investment management.

The Foundation was conceived by Mazi founder Malungelo Zilimbola and launched by its Chair, Ambassador Barbara Masekela. The initiative reflects Malungelo’s belief that Mazi’s commercial success should also create meaningful opportunities for the communities around it.

The Mazi Foundation is envisioned as a bold bricks-and-mortar life hub serving people at every stage of life: from children who need a safe place to learn, do homework and play, to young people seeking purpose, adults striving for dignity and wholeness, and elders who still have wisdom to share.

Ambassador Masekela also spoke about the importance of giving young people access to opportunity, particularly through arts and culture. These spaces can play an important role in shaping identity, developing confidence, nurturing creativity and creating a sense of belonging. Yet when communities face competing social needs, funding for arts and culture is often among the first to be cut, contributing to the loss of community centres.

Her message was clear: for this vision to thrive, it will require partnerships with local and district government, religious institutions and NGOs, bringing together resources, expertise and a shared commitment to the communities they serve. Together we can transform scarcity into opportunity and isolation into community.

The Next Chapter

The 20th anniversary celebration was ultimately not about looking backwards. It was about using the lessons of the past to shape the future. The ambition is to create a business that lives beyond its founders and current leadership, with a legacy measured not only by assets under management or investment performance, but by the people it has developed, the relationships it has built, the opportunities it has created and the communities it has touched.

As the evening drew to a close, there was a shared sense of gratitude for a journey that began with that first mandate in 2006, for the clients and partners who have placed their trust in Mazi, and for the incredible people who have helped build the organisation over the past two decades.

Twenty years is a remarkable milestone, but it is only the beginning of the next chapter for Mazi. A chapter that begins with the same ambition as all those years ago: investment excellence, enduring partnerships, meaningful contribution, and a legacy that extends well beyond the present.

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