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Our Members are joining hands for the first time with a bold vision that puts the well-being of communities at its heart.
Welcome to the Drinks Federation of South Africa. Our Members are joining hands for the first time with a bold Vision that puts the well-being of communities at its heart. We’re just getting started. Here’s a sneak peek at who we are.
The DF-SA aims to:
Be a unified voice for the industry, serving as a platform for engagement with policymakers, regulators, the media, and community partners.
Convene the whole of the drinks sector to engage harmoniously and proactively on timely issues including alcohol in society, road safety, responsible marketing and sales and regulations, eradicating illicit trade, market formalization, and their impact on South Africa’s jobs, the economy, and investments.
Support independent research, be the the industry’s standards-setting body (including the Alcohol Industry Code of Conduct); data collector, and best practice repository.
Pursue behavioural science-based responsible consumption interventions that can brought to scale working with community partners and experts.
Drinks Federation of South Africa Non-Executive Chairperson and Senior Advisor
“The drinks industry has been part of this country’s history and will continue to play a significant role in socio-economic growth and employment creation. The timing of the Drinks Federation post-COVID lockdown is opportune, as it begins the journey to showcase the industry as cause for good in our society, and a reliable partner for government and key stakeholders to build a healthier, prosperous, more inclusive and humane society. I am excited to contribute to this journey, whose outcomes will touch many households and society at large.”
Drinks Federation of South Africa CEO
“The DF-SA is born out of a genuine desire from its members to chart a future that puts the well-being of South African society at its heart. As a sizeable economic contributor, it is heartening to see the collaboration of its members to make a meaningful societal impact. Change requires a whole-of-society approach, and we look forward to collaborating with all the key stakeholders to bring about meaningful change. This is much needed and is indeed pivotal for the industry and society.”
The Drinks Federation of South Africa is putting the well-being of communities at its heart. That’s why we’re coming together with the non-profit organisation, Aware.org, whose mission is to deliver evidence-based, measurable, and high impact programmes, to bring about positive changes to South Africa’s drinking culture. By aligning our work, we’ll leverage our collective strengths in a coordinated way and bring scale and impact to this important work.
Managing Director of Aware.org
“Joining forces with the Drinks Federation of South Africa marks an important milestone for Aware.org’s next chapter. It allows Aware.org to focus exclusively on driving the responsible use of alcohol. Our mission is to deliver evidence-based, measurable, and high impact programmes, grounded in behavioural science to bring about positive changes to South Africa’s drinking culture.”
POSTAL ADDRESS:
PO Box 4942, Rietvlei Rand,
0174
PHYSICAL ADDRESS:
1st Floor Atholl Towers
129 Patricia Road
Sandown
Sandton
2031
Tel: +27 010 110 7160
Fax: +27 010 110 7162
E-Mail: admin@drinksfederationsa.co.za
Ms Monhla Hlahla is a respected business leader with a track record of more than 40 years in business operation, leadership, and corporate governance.
During her tenure (2001- 2011) as Managing Director of Airports Company South Africa (ACSA), Ms Hlahla led a major infrastructure transformation of South Africa’s main airports and the commercial expansion of ACSA’s footprint into India and Brazil.
She received several local and international awards for Management and Leadership. Between 2004 and 2005, Ms Hlahla received awards as Businesswoman and Business personality of the year, and in 2014 she was bestowed a Knight of Honour by the French President.
Ms Hlahla is an accomplished director of companies. She served as a non-executive director of various Companies and State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs); and has chaired companies such as Royal Bafokeng Holdings (RBH), Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), and Trans Caledon Tunnel Authority (TCTA). She is currently a non-executive director of RBH, Discovery Limited, and Africa50.
Ms Hlahla holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree (Hons) from Pomona College in the United States where she majored in Economics, a Master of Arts Degree in Urban Planning from the University of California in Los Angeles, and an Advanced Management Programme Certificate from INSEAD in France.
Angela Russell brings extensive and multi-functional commercial and executive leadership experience gained through her 22-year career working for blue chip companies in the Business-to-Business, FMCG, and Medical Device industries across South Africa, the Middle East, India, and Africa. These companies include ConvaTec, Hollister, Kimberly-Clark, 3M, and Abbott Nutrition. Most recently, Angela was the CEO of the American Chamber of Commerce in South Africa, one of the country’s most respected business associations.
Angela has served on Business Unity South Africa’s (BUSAs) Board of Directors and NEDLAC’s Exco as part of the business delegation. She was also a Board member of the US Chamber of Commerce’s US–South Africa Business Council.
Angela started her career as a nursing sister and holds a Diploma in Nursing (General, Psychiatric, Community) and Midwifery from B G Alexander Nursing College and a Post Graduate Certificate in Stomal Therapy Nursing from the New South Wales College of Nursing. She also has a Diploma in Marketing and a Post Graduate Diploma in Marketing Management from the IMM Graduate School of Marketing. She is currently pursuing a MPhil in Leadership Coaching from the University of Johannesburg and is a proponent of conscious leadership with a passion for women in leadership and leadership development.
Ms Carmen Mohapi brings over 20 years of leadership and commercial experience working across several industries, including telecoms, financial services and FMCG. Carmen has held executive and marketing management roles at South African pioneers South African Breweries, Vodacom, and Discovery. Most recently, she was on the Board of HEINEKEN SA and served as its Marketing Director. After 15 years in the alcohol industry, in 2021 she ventured outside the traditional corporate sector, first partnering in a bio-fuel start-up and, since February 2022, becoming Interim CEO for Aware.Org. At Aware.Org, Carmen has started the journey of bringing evidence-based behaviour change insights to the design, implementation, and measurement of the organisation’s responsible drinking interventions.
Carmen has served on the Boards of the Marketing Association of South Africa and the Advertising Regulatory Board (ARB).