Ismail Joosub
Nominee's Province:
Gauteng
Age:
26
Project Name/Description:
With local government elections set for later this year, the advocacy and tireless work of Ismail Joosub is appreciated more than ever. His work focuses on educating young people about the Bill of Rights, voting, active citizenship, local government and the responsibilities that come with a strong democracy. In his role as manager of constitutional advancement at the FW de Klerk Foundation, he is an ambassador for ethical leadership and uses his law degree through active participation in parliamentary submissions, public commentary, and youth-focused initiatives. For Ismail, the law is abstract but is a practical tool for justice, accountability and hope. “Working so closely with the Constitution is both humbling and sobering, because one quickly realises that it is far more than a legal document. It is the moral architecture of our democracy. It reminds us that power must answer to principle, that dignity belongs to every person, and that no office or institution is above the law. I feel an immense sense of responsibility being embedded in this work,” he says. The 26-year-old was selected by President Cyril Ramaphosa to facilitate the National Dialogue in 2025. “The National Dialogue was one of the most meaningful opportunities of my life, because it reminded me that democracy is not only protected in courts or Parliament but also in the willingness of citizens to speak honestly to one another.”
