It’s not every day you meet one of the world’s top 10 most influential women in the global gaming industry. To celebrate Women’s Month, we catch up with Charmaine Mabuza, CEO of Ithuba Holdings, philanthropist, and doting grandmother, to find out just what makes her tick.
Regal and elegant, she is also soft-spoken, with a throaty laugh that immediately puts you at ease, but don’t be fooled, this woman is a force to be reckoned with. Born in KwaZulu-Natal, she moved to the Lowveld after she met and married advocate Erick Mabuza. She loves the area and considers herself a true Lowvelder at heart. “There is so much space here,” she laughs. “And it’s so beautiful. Mine is the proverbial large African family. I have three children of my own, and jointly Erick and I have seven. And believe it or not, I have 16 grandchildren! Of course, we have these huge family get-togethers, which I love. I feel like the Lowveld really embraces that sort of lifestyle; it encourages authentic family contact.”
Charmaine was reared by her single mum, helping to look after her siblings to ensure there would be funding for their education. “My mother was my first and most influential role model,” she says. “I am extremely family-orientated, and my motivation to succeed is a credit to my mother’s dedication and hard work. She was my inspiration, and most importantly instilled in me the importance of gender equality from an early age.”
Always a trailblazer, in 2002 Charmaine was appointed one of the first black female sheriffs in South Africa for the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court, then Chair of the South African Board of Sheriffs, a post she held for a number of years. Along with her passion for equality and diligence, Charmaine’s mum also taught her the value of sharp business acumen.
Her entrepreneurial spirit soon rubbed off on a daughter eager to learn, which she did through her hands-on involvement in the retail-based family business, an excellent springboard for her later ventures. One of those ventures is Zamani Holdings, which Charmaine and Erick launched in 2008 and of which Ithuba is a subsidiary.
Charmaine, CEO of Ithuba, believes their great success is down to hard work and innovation. Her staff compliment is also predominantly female, in keeping with her passion for female empowerment. “The gaming industry on a worldwide level is very much a male-dominated one,” she says. For a black female to have risen so far up the ranks is testament to her determination and pure grit, also evidenced by the numerous awards and accolades she has received.
In 2019 she won the Vision 2030 Top Woman in Education Award; in 2020 Business Leader of the Year Award, and the Forbes Women Africa Impact Social Award. In 2021 she was awarded the Women CEO of the Year at the Africa Leadership Awards. On top of this, the World Lottery Association officially recognised Ithuba as one of the top five executed lotteries worldwide; this only one year after it became the National Lottery operator.
Having got this far through hard work and hands-on practical experience, Charmaine views herself as a self-taught individual. “The awards are a humbling acknowledgment of the work we do, reminding me of what we are capable of. The driving force in my life is that you should never forget your roots. I come from humble origins and know first-hand what it’s like to lack the resources to follow your dreams.”
By nurturing and loving yourself, you will always make sure to give yourself what you deserve.
This is one of the reasons she and Erick set up the Erick and Charmaine Mabuza Scholarship Foundation, an organisation very close to her heart. “The foundation enables well-performing students from disadvantaged backgrounds to further their studies,” she explains. “I believe strongly in the fact that education is the key to transformation in Africa.” The success rate speaks for itself; many of these students have gone on to become professionals in their chosen fields, from medicine to finance.
Charmaine’s philosophy is that when you decide to do something, you do it properly. She is currently studying for a qualification at Harvard. “It is never too late to follow your dreams or do something you have always wanted to do,” she smiles. “That is why Ithuba is such a success story for me. We work to instil optimism and the attitude of giving to the least fortunate through our corporate social investment and scholarship programmes. For me, it’s about giving back to our communities in a way that will ensure a stable income for future generations. The entrepreneurial spirit in Africa is a largely untapped well of opportunity and endless possibility.”
Charmaine believes the key to tapping into this on a personal level is self-love. Speaking specifically about young women, she explains that by nurturing and loving yourself, you will always make sure to give yourself what you deserve. If you truly love and respect yourself for who you are, you will strive for the best for yourself. “I always want to say to young people that the ‘social media’ lifestyle so many of them are living is a life of instant gratification and is really not sustainable. I think it is a great pity, because we get lost in all the clutter and we have forgotten the basics, such as self-love and having and working towards sustainable goals. And very importantly, spirituality. Spirituality gives you guidance; it is your higher power.”
Balancing work and family isn’t always easy when you are travelling as much as she does, but Charmaine is slowing down, spending more time at home. “I love to be with my grandchildren, I’m a very hands-on granny,” she laughs, her face lighting up. “They really spoil me. I also spend a lot of time in my garden. I love tending the flowers and my veggies, they bring me great pleasure and joy. I would much rather have a garden party and invite friends over than go out to a restaurant. I love to cook,” she adds. “I experiment with everything, from Indian to Moroccan, which is my current favourite. Cooking is a relaxing and meditative thing for me, and mealtimes for us are an important part of the family dynamic. Sometimes, even if you live together, you live past each other, so it’s a chance to reconnect.”
Charmaine also wants to spend more time on that which is closest to her heart, her community work. Changing lives for the better and giving back is extremely important to her. A bursary fund for young women is a project she is passionate about, not only with regard to funding, but also mentorship and guidance, and unlocking their potential. “I don’t ever want to be stagnant,” she says. “I love change. Change is what keeps us alive; without it we become idle. There is always potential for growth, no matter your age or circumstances. I’m not afraid to push boundaries, and my focus is on building a legacy.”
