Zaakirah Vadi

Zaakirah Vadi serves as Executive Director at the Defend our Democracy movement. Defend our Democracy focuses on tackling state capture and corruption, advocating for electoral integrity and reform, and enhancing public participation in democracy. 

Zaakirah previously worked as programme manager at the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation’s Strengthening Democracy Programme. Prior to this, she served as communications officer at the Kathrada Foundation. During this time, she edited a book, looking at struggle veteran and former political prisoner Ahmed Kathrada’s 300  trips to Robben Island, with guests from around the world. 

Zaakirah studied Communications Sciences through Unisa, was a Caxton media school cadet, and worked as a community journalist and sub editor at the Rising Sun newspaper in Lenasia for several years.