Heidelberg wellness advocate Lebogang Tutubala earns 2026 Gauteng Community Leaders Awards nomination

Heidelberg-based health and wellness advocate Lebogang Victoria Tutubala has been nominated for the Health & Wellness Leader of the Year 2026 award at the second Gauteng Community Leaders Awards.

Tutubala has been recognised for her ongoing work to empower girls and young women through health and wellness, personal development and sport.

Her work is rooted in Heidelberg, where she works closely with Shiela Mazibuko through Ntombazana Soul Sisters and the Soul Sisters Netball Club.

Tutubala said it came as a surprise, as she is not someone who seeks recognition for her work.

“Honestly, this nomination came as a surprise. I am not a person who likes to point the spotlight to myself. I am an impactor who believes in changing people’s lives through personal development and sports development. My mentor taught me that with or without recognition, the work must happen. Personally, this nomination tells me that the community recognises the work that we have been doing through the years as Ntombazana Soul Sisters,” she said.

Through the organiSation, Tutubala and Mazibuko run programmes aimed at addressing issues affecting girls and young women, including personal health, body image and mental health. The Soul Sisters Netball Club complements this work by using sport as a platform for broader personal development.

“We use netball not just for sport but for holistic development. We teach personal development, self-confidence, and self-love, and we pair them with sports development. We host wellness talks and mental health awareness events, and we create a safe sisterhood. We are building healthy, confident young women. One of the biggest challenges facing their work is a lack of resources, particularly sponsorship for training equipment. I overcome this through consistency and faith.

“I show up even when it’s difficult and remind the girls that wellness is not a luxury; it’s a foundation and we lean on each other,” she said.

Tutubala believes that winning the award would benefit not only her but also the young women involved in the programmes.

“Winning would give our girls visibility. It would help us get sponsors for training equipment and branding. It would allow us to expand our wellness and personal development programmes to reach more young women in Heidelberg who need a safe space to grow.

“You don’t need a big title or a big budget to make a difference in your community. Use what you have where you are; be intentional and consistent. The work must happen, whether anyone is watching or not,” she said.