A KING TAKES THE STAGE: KING KOMANA TO DELIVER A SPECIAL KEYNOTE AT CLEVEnARD 2027

Ambassador Prof. Dr. King Komana Shalanatjo Andries — King Ngoato III — to be honoured at the 2027 CLEVEnARD Open Project and 4th Edition of the CLEVEnARD Global Awards in Torremolinos, Málaga, Spain

TORREMOLINOS, MÁLAGA, SPAIN — 22–25 JUNE 2027

There are moments when an event becomes more than an event. There are occasions when a stage becomes a meeting point between vision, leadership, experience and possibility. The 2027 CLEVEnARD Open Project and 4th Edition of the CLEVEnARD Global Awards promises to be one of those occasions as Ambassador Prof. Dr. King Komana Shalanatjo Andries — King Ngoato III — takes the international stage in Torremolinos, Málaga, Spain.

CLEVEnARD is proud to announce that the distinguished African traditional leader, entrepreneur, humanitarian, human-capital development practitioner and continental development advocate will be honoured during the 2027 programme. In addition to this special recognition, King Komana will deliver a highly anticipated keynote address, bringing his experience, vision and message of African empowerment to an international audience.

This will be an exceptional opportunity to hear directly from a leader whose journey has crossed the worlds of traditional leadership, mining, organised labour, human resources, education, entrepreneurship, humanitarian service, business development and continental economic transformation.

A LIFE BUILT AROUND PURPOSE

Ambassador Prof. Dr. King Komana Shalanatjo Andries, widely known as King Komana and King Ngoato III, represents a distinctive African leadership story — one that began in Ga-Motshana Village in Limpopo Province, South Africa, and developed through years of work, education, leadership, entrepreneurship and service.

His story is not simply one of titles and appointments. It is a story of progression.

From the mining workforce to human-resource management. From representing workers to building enterprises. From skills development to continental economic initiatives. From community engagement to traditional leadership. From local entrepreneurship to a vision that reaches across African borders.

Throughout this journey, one principle has remained central:

“Africa's greatest resource is its people.”

That philosophy has shaped King Komana's approach to leadership and development and has driven his determination to create opportunities through education, skills development, entrepreneurship, investment, partnerships and community empowerment.

FROM THE MINE TO THE CONTINENT

King Komana's early professional experience in the mining industry gave him a unique understanding of workers, communities and the economic importance of Africa's natural resources.

Beginning his career at Witbank Coal Mine in 1990 as a Security Guard, he progressed through positions of increasing responsibility, including Recreational Club Manager, Industrial Relations Officer and Human Resources Manager.

At the age of 25, he served as a Shop Steward representing more than 500 workers and subsequently became Treasurer of the National Union of Mineworkers.

These experiences placed him directly within the realities of working communities and gave him an enduring appreciation of the importance of leadership, skills, dignity, economic participation and opportunity.

That experience later became an important foundation for his wider development philosophy.

King Komana believes Africa's extraordinary natural resources must be connected to the development of its greatest asset — its people.

His vision calls for Africa to move beyond simply extracting and exporting raw materials and to strengthen its capacity for beneficiation, manufacturing, enterprise development, skills transfer, infrastructure and local economic participation.

His message is therefore not simply about minerals.

It is about transforming mineral wealth into human wealth.

BUILDING PEOPLE THROUGH EDUCATION AND SKILLS

One of the most defining chapters of King Komana's career has been his commitment to training and human-capital development.

In 2006, he founded HAT Training and Development Institute, creating a platform focused on practical training, entrepreneurship and employment readiness.

The institute has trained more than 4,800 learners, with participants coming from across South Africa and neighbouring countries.

Behind these numbers is a philosophy that King Komana repeatedly champions: education must become a pathway to opportunity.

His entrepreneurship-development approach incorporates areas such as marketing, financial assessment, technical assessment, enterprise appraisal, business planning, business advisory services, monitoring and evaluation, and building sustainable businesses.

His professional development has included studies in Personnel and Training Management, corporate governance, entrepreneurship, business advisory services and other technical and professional disciplines.

He has also undertaken training in areas including Earth-Moving Equipment instruction, assessment, Excel and Pastel Accounting.

His commitment to lifelong learning has become inseparable from his commitment to empowering others.

A VISION TO TRAIN A MILLION AFRICANS

King Komana's ambitions for human-capital development extend far beyond a single institution.

His stated continental vision includes the development of 45 training centres across Southern Africa, with an ambition to create employment opportunities for approximately 5,000 trainers, while supporting a wider campaign to develop the skills of one million youth, women and persons with disabilities.

This is an ambitious vision rooted in a simple belief: Africa cannot build a sustainable future if millions of its people remain excluded from meaningful economic participation.

The challenge, in his view, is not merely to create employment.

It is to create people who are equipped to create employment.

It is to develop entrepreneurs, technicians, trainers, assessors, moderators, professionals and business leaders who can contribute to their communities and economies.

This human-capital agenda will be one of the important themes surrounding his appearance at CLEVEnARD 2027.

ENTREPRENEURSHIP WITH A CONTINENTAL PURPOSE

King Komana's entrepreneurial journey has expanded significantly over the years.

As Group Chairman of Komaas Group of Companies Pty Ltd, established in 2018, and President and Founder of Komaas Africa Chamber of Commerce NPC, established in 2024, he has developed a multi-sector vision encompassing areas such as mining and beneficiation, renewable energy, agriculture, logistics, ICT, manufacturing, property, construction, education, healthcare, water and infrastructure.

The Komaas vision seeks to bring together business, investment, government, traditional institutions, development organisations and communities around projects capable of generating sustainable economic and social value.

It is a model built around collaboration.

King Komana's philosophy recognises that Africa's development challenges cannot be solved by one organisation, one government, one company or one sector working alone.

The future requires partnerships.

THE AFRICAN MINERAL WEALTH QUESTION

Few issues are more closely associated with King Komana's public development vision than the question of how Africa can capture greater value from its enormous natural-resource base.

Africa possesses globally important deposits of minerals and other strategic resources. King Komana's position is that the continent must increasingly develop the capabilities required to process, manufacture and add value to those resources locally.

His labour-centred development proposal places emphasis on skills transfer, local enterprise development, industrial infrastructure, logistics, agriculture, food security and beneficiation.

He argues for a development model in which workers are not limited to entry-level extraction roles but are given pathways towards higher-level technical and professional expertise.

He advocates stronger African participation in mining procurement and supply chains and greater opportunities for local businesses to develop around major industrial projects.

He also emphasises the importance of infrastructure — particularly rail, ports, energy and logistics — as an essential foundation for industrialisation.

FROM EXTRACTION TO VALUE CREATION

The central idea is powerful:

Africa should not merely export what it digs from the ground. Africa should increasingly create value from what it produces.

• That means skills.
• That means processing.
• That means manufacturing.
• That means entrepreneurship.
• That means infrastructure.
• That means technology.
• And, ultimately, it means people.

King Komana's vision connects these elements into one broader development ecosystem.

• A mine creates demand for suppliers.
• Suppliers create businesses.
• Businesses create employment.
• Skills development strengthens those businesses.
• Infrastructure connects production to markets.
• Agriculture strengthens food security.
• Energy supports industrial development.

And communities become participants in the economic ecosystem rather than spectators to it.

This integrated approach is central to the continental message King Komana is expected to bring to the CLEVEnARD stage.

THE KING WHO CONNECTS HERITAGE AND THE FUTURE

There is another dimension to King Komana's leadership that makes his story particularly distinctive.

As King Ngoato III, he carries the responsibility and symbolism of traditional African leadership.

For him, the crown is not merely ceremonial.

It represents heritage, identity, responsibility, community and service.

His vision is to demonstrate that traditional institutions can remain relevant to modern development by contributing constructively to education, entrepreneurship, humanitarian initiatives, economic empowerment and community development.

King Komana's leadership therefore occupies a space between generations.

He speaks to the preservation of African identity while advocating modern education and technology.

He speaks to traditional authority while engaging with entrepreneurs and investors.

He speaks about heritage while focusing on infrastructure and economic development.

He speaks about history while preparing young Africans for the future.

That ability to connect different worlds is one of the defining characteristics of his public leadership philosophy.

A HUMANITARIAN HEART

Beyond enterprise and development, King Komana's work also carries a strong humanitarian dimension.

Through initiatives associated with community development and the NGOATO-WEST Foundation, his stated focus includes social upliftment, poverty alleviation and support for vulnerable communities.

His humanitarian philosophy is centred on dignity.

For King Komana, helping people is not simply about providing temporary assistance. It is about creating the conditions through which individuals, families and communities can become more resilient and economically sustainable.

This philosophy connects naturally with his work in education and entrepreneurship.

• Skills create confidence.
• Confidence creates participation.
• Participation creates opportunity.
• Opportunity creates economic independence.
• And economic independence strengthens communities.

A MULTI-SECTOR AFRICAN VISION

King Komana's professional interests span a remarkable range of sectors, including mining, beneficiation, agriculture, renewable energy, solar, rail, ports, logistics, ICT, manufacturing, construction, property, education, training and development, healthcare, water, fisheries, aviation, hospitality, banking and finance, procurement and automotive development.

Rather than seeing these industries as separate, he views them as interconnected components of a broader African development system.

His approach is therefore both entrepreneurial and institutional.

The goal is not simply to establish individual businesses.

The goal is to create ecosystems in which businesses, communities, governments, investors, traditional institutions and development partners can work together.

AN INTERNATIONAL LEADER ON AN INTERNATIONAL STAGE

It is within this broader context that King Komana's participation in CLEVEnARD 2027 takes on particular significance.

CLEVEnARD provides an international platform bringing together business, entrepreneurship, investment, education, culture, innovation, leadership and global networking.

The presence of King Komana adds an important African development perspective to that international conversation.

His keynote will provide an opportunity to hear a distinctly African voice addressing questions that extend far beyond national borders:

• How can Africa unlock the potential of its people?
• How can natural-resource wealth create broader prosperity?
• How can entrepreneurship become a pathway to economic inclusion?
• How can traditional institutions participate in modern development?
• How can international partnerships support African-led initiatives?
• And how can today's leaders create opportunities for the generations that will inherit tomorrow's Africa?
• These are not small questions.
• They are questions about the future.

A MOMENT YOU SHOULD NOT MISS

For everyone attending CLEVEnARD 2027, King Komana's keynote promises to be one of the moments to watch.

We strongly encourage entrepreneurs, investors, business leaders, traditional leaders, diplomats, educators, development practitioners, humanitarian organisations, young professionals, innovators and members of the international community to be present.

• Be there to witness the honour.
• Be there to hear the keynote.
• Be there to meet international leaders.
• Be there to exchange ideas.
• Be there to explore partnerships.

Be there to experience a gathering where Africa's development conversation meets the wider international business and leadership community.

DO NOT JUST READ ABOUT THIS MOMENT.

BE THERE WHEN THE KING TAKES THE STAGE.

The 2027 CLEVEnARD programme will feature the 6th CLEVEnARD Open Project, the 4th Edition of the CLEVEnARD Global Awards, the 5th Edition of the CLEVEnARD Global Fashion Summit, and the 1st Edition of the CLEVEnARD Fashion & Beauty Pageant.

Against this international backdrop, the honouring of King Komana and his special keynote address will provide an important opportunity to celebrate African leadership, vision and achievement.

A MESSAGE THAT TRAVELS BEYOND BORDERS

King Komana's story is ultimately larger than any one title.

It is larger than any one company.

It is larger than any one industry.

It is a story about what becomes possible when education, determination, entrepreneurship, traditional leadership and service are brought together around a common purpose.

His journey from the mining sector to continental entrepreneurship and traditional leadership illustrates a career built around one recurring theme: empower people and build institutions that create opportunity.

And his message to Africa is both ambitious and deeply personal.

“Africa is our project. Send me, and I will go.”

Those words capture the spirit of a leader who believes that Africa's future cannot simply be discussed.

• It must be built.
• It must be taught.
• It must be financed.
• It must be engineered.
• It must be cultivated.
• It must be connected.

And above all, it must be built by and for its people.

TORREMOLINOS AWAITS

From 22–25 June 2027, the international community will gather in Torremolinos, Málaga, Spain, for CLEVEnARD 2027.

Among the distinguished moments will be the recognition of Ambassador Prof. Dr. King Komana Shalanatjo Andries — King Ngoato III and his special keynote address.

• For those who believe in entrepreneurship.
• For those who believe in education.
• For those who believe in African development.
• For those who believe in international collaboration.
• For those who believe that leadership should serve a greater purpose.

THIS IS YOUR INVITATION.

• Come to Torremolinos.
• Come to CLEVEnARD 2027.
• Come and hear King Komana.
• Come and witness the moment.
• Come and be part of the conversation.

A KING TAKES THE STAGE.

A VISION TAKES THE FLOOR.

AFRICA'S FUTURE TAKES CENTRE STAGE.

22–25 JUNE 2027

PALACIO DE CONGRESOS DE TORREMOLINOS

TORREMOLINOS, MÁLAGA, SPAIN

CLEVEnARD 2027 — PRESENT. PROMOTE. CONNECT. COLLABORATE.

View the official CLEVEnARD 2027 event information

Catégorie:

Pressemitteilung 

Écrit par:

Tolu Osindero

Téléphone:

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