From the rural village of Gogogo in Limpopo to the bright city lights of Johannesburg, Vhahangwele Manavhela’s entrepreneurship journey is not only an inspiration to the African girl child. It’s a testament to how far a person can go through hard work and determination.
Vhahangwele is managing director of Aequalitas Capital Partners, an Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) and Social Impact Advisory Services company based in Johannesburg.
“We founded Aequalitas Capital Partners in 2019, launching it in March 2020 at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The company was established in response to a critical gap in the market—ESG considerations were often treated as an isolated compliance function rather than an integral part of investment strategy and risk management,” Vhahangwele says.
“Our experience in the investment sector, particularly in ESG due diligence, policy development, and assessments, highlighted a recurring challenge: while ESG due diligence and annual assessments often resulted in Corrective Action Plans, the effectiveness of these plans was limited by a lack of strategic integration and expertise in the market.
“Our approach goes beyond regulatory compliance to ensure ESG factors are actively linked to business performance, risk management, and long-term value creation. By aligning ESG considerations with the overall investment thesis, we help businesses transform their operations to be more responsible, competitive, and resilient in an evolving global market,” she adds.
Educational Journey
Vhahangwele was born in the rural village of Gogogo, located 478 km north of Johannesburg. Growing up in a family of six, she recalls being surrounded by many other children from her extended family and friends, making for a vibrant and communal upbringing.
She began her education at Gogogo Primary School and later attended Vele Secondary School. Looking back, she sees how her career objectives at that time were very different from what she is now occupied with.
“Initially, my ambition was to pursue a career in the medical field. However, my matric results steered me towards the social sciences. I enrolled at the University of the North (Turfloop), now the University of Limpopo, where I earned a BA in Psychology in 1995.
“In 2004, I pursued an Honours degree in Psychology at the University of Venda, and in 2011, I embarked on a Master’s in Sociology, majoring in Impact Assessment.”
In 2021, as the COVID-19 pandemic wreaked havoc, Vahangwele followed her passion for cooking by enrolling in a professional chef program at a culinary school and completing the course within a year.
Selling Avocados
While Vhahangwele’s parents have always underlined education as a major cornerstone, they were unaware that their daughter’s entrepreneurial skills would also become a major factor in her journey to success.
Vhahangwele remembers how the seeds of entrepreneurship started sprouting from her while she was still in school.
“My professional journey has been diverse, spanning the NGO sector, corporate organisations, and the public sector. I spent a significant portion of my career at the Public Investment Corporation (PIC), where I honed my ESG expertise through continuous learning, refinement, and adaptation.
“Entrepreneurship has always been part of my journey. In high school, I sold avocados from my parents’ farm, spicy mango atchar, sweets, and anything in demand at the time. These early ventures helped supplement our family income and laid the foundation for my entrepreneurial mindset.
“Despite this background, I never imagined myself as a full-time entrepreneur without a traditional 9–5 job. That changed in 2018 when I joined the Eisenhower Fellowship Programme, which required me to spend seven weeks in the USA.
“By the end of the programme, I made a bold decision—not to return to formal employment but to start my own business. In 2019, alongside two business partners, we began working on a business concept while saving money. That decision set the course for my entrepreneurial journey. The business is currently co-owned with Imruwa Demissie.”
Staying Ahead of the Curve
Aequalitas is an advisory firm dedicated to integrating ESG principles into investment decision-making and business operations.
Vhahangwele and her team help investors, asset managers, and businesses go beyond compliance by leveraging ESG as a tool for value creation, risk management, and long-term sustainability.
Headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, Aequalitas operates on a remote working model, enabling flexibility and efficiency in providing ESG and impact solutions. Their services are primarily focused on emerging markets, with a strong emphasis on Africa.
“We are a boutique firm with a core team of five permanent professionals, complemented by a pool of specialized consultants who bring expertise across various industries to support our projects and clients,” explains Vhahangwele.
“A key aspect of our strategy is embedding ESG into core investment strategies. Unlike traditional ESG advisory models that focus solely on compliance, we view ESG as a value-enhancing and risk management tool.
“Technology plays a crucial role in how we measure and manage ESG impact. We leverage AI-enhanced ESG analytics and data-driven impact measurement tools to improve transparency and provide actionable insights.
“To expand our expertise and remain agile, we operate with a flexible consultant model, engaging specialist ESG and impact advisors who bring sector-specific insights tailored to our clients’ needs,” she adds.
Overcoming Covid 19 Threats
Vhahangwele recalls the significant challenge of launching her business during a period of global economic disruption. The COVID-19 pandemic created a climate of financial uncertainty, making it difficult to engage with potential clients who were more focused on short-term survival than long-term ESG integration.
“This experience reinforced the importance of adaptability and resilience. We quickly shifted our strategy to align with emerging trends, such as the increased focus on ESG risk management and sustainable finance in a post-pandemic recovery.
“Another challenge was positioning ESG as a strategic value driver rather than a compliance exercise. Many businesses and investors initially viewed ESG as a regulatory obligation rather than a tool for risk mitigation and long-term value creation.
“Overcoming this required continuous stakeholder education and advocacy, demonstrating how ESG integration enhances investment performance and operational resilience. This taught me the importance of thought leadership and effective communication in shifting mindsets and influencing industry practices.
“As a small business, another persistent challenge has been building and maintaining a skilled team. As they gain expertise, larger firms often recruit them, forcing us to constantly train and rebuild our team. While this presents challenges, it has also reinforced the importance of creating a strong internal culture and maintaining a pipeline of talent to ensure business continuity.”
Achievements and Advice
Vhahangwele is proud of one of Aequalitas’ most significant achievements – establishing a strong presence in Africa with projects in South Africa, Ethiopia, Namibia, Mali, Côte d’Ivoire, South Sudan, Djibouti, Uganda, Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, and Tanzania.
These projects have allowed her to integrate ESG principles, enhance sustainable investment frameworks, and support businesses to align with global sustainability standards.
“Beyond Africa, we have also made strategic inroads into the Middle East, where we have worked on ESG advisory and impact investment initiatives. This expansion demonstrates our ability to navigate diverse regulatory environments, adapt to market needs, and apply global best practices in ESG and sustainable finance across different economic landscapes.”
Vhahangwele advises other entrepreneurs to differentiate their businesses by defining a clear niche and value proposition leveraging strategic partnerships.
“Instead of stretching resources too thin, focus on collaborating with consultants, subject matter experts, and complementary firms. Strategic partnerships allow you to expand service offerings, enhance credibility, and access larger projects without requiring significant upfront investment,” says Vhahangwele.
