“Some nonhuman animals I love. Some I like. And some scare the hell out of me. But I would fight for the interests of them all.” — Steven M. Wise
Mthabisi Sibanda is passionate about animal welfare, a passion deeply influenced by the 1999 film “Animal Farm.” This early exposure to the plight of animals sparked a lifelong commitment to vegetarianism and animal rights advocacy.
Mthabisi holds an LLB from the University of South Africa and is currently pursuing board exams in corporate governance and company secretariat. His professional journey includes significant experience in regulatory compliance and corporate social responsibility, currently serving as a Human Resources and Compliance Manager at a transport registration and fleet management company. Here, Mthabisi champions environmental awareness and animal safety, leveraging regulatory compliance to foster sustainability and ethical treatment of animals.
Beyond his corporate role, Mthabisi is deeply involved in LifeByDesign, a rural development nonprofit. He advocates for vegetarianism and promotes alternative protein sources over animal-based diets. Through community outreach, he engages local leaders, conducts workshops, and distributes seed hampers to empower rural communities to cultivate their protein sources.
In 2023, Mthabisi attended a transformative webinar by Animal Reform South Africa, listened to co-founder Amy P Wilson, and discovered the prestigious Animal Law LLM offered by CALS (Center for Animal Law Studies). This program aligns perfectly with Mthabisi’s aspirations, offering the opportunity to enhance his skills and broaden his impact on rural communities and animal welfare.
Mthabisi’s dedication extends to corporate awareness through his volunteer work at LifeByDesign NPO, where he believes that corporations can lead initiatives to stop sea pollution with plastics and chemical waste.
“Compassion for animals is intimately associated with goodness of character, and it may be confidently asserted that he who is cruel to animals cannot be a good man.” — Arthur Schopenhauer