“In order to help people, we need to understand them.” In this episode of The Add IDEAS Podcast, Bandile Mndebele sits down with South African disability rights advocate Bongani Mapumulo to explore accessibility, identity, and lived experience. From navigating public spaces to conversations about masculinity, relationships, education, and innovation, this discussion brings lived experience to the forefront of how societies design systems — and who those systems include or exclude. Bongani shares both personal insights and professional work advancing assistive technology, inclusive design, and disability innovation in low- and middle-income contexts. The conversation highlights why understanding people and their lived realities is the first step toward meaningful inclusion. Whether you work in policy, education, design, technology, or simply want to better understand disability and inclusion, this episode challenges us to rethink how access, dignity, and opportunity shape everyday life. About the Guest Bongani Mapumulo is a disability rights advocate and researcher focused on inclusive innovation and assistive technology in the Global South. With academic foundations in Political Science, Sociology, and Social Anthropology from Stellenbosch University, Bongani also holds advanced diplomas in Disability & Rehabilitation and Intercultural Communication. He pursued a Master of Philosophy in Inclusive Innovation at the University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business, where his research explores how assistive technologies and inclusive design can improve opportunities for students living with disabilities in low-income communities. Referenced Work This conversation references the book Physical Disability and Sexuality: Stories from South Africa (2021). Edited by Xanthe Hunt, Stine Hellum Braathen, Mussa Chiwaula, Mark T. Carew, Poul Rohleder, and Leslie Swartz, and published by Springer Nature under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License. Bongani’s contributions appear in: • Chapter 6 — Physical Disability and Masculinity: Hegemony and Exclusion • Chapter 7 — Bongani’s Story Notable Mentions • Carl & Emily Fuchs Foundation • Bertha Centre for Social Innovation & Entrepreneurship • UCT Centre for Innovation in Learning and Teaching — One Button Studios Connect with Bongani Mapumulo LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bongani-mapumulo-828746206/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bongani.mapumulo.1 Work with Bandile Mndebele Host Bandile Mndebele is available for speaking engagements, collaborations, workshops, interviews, and partnerships. Contact: info@bandilem.com The Add IDEAS Podcast is an OTHERWISE production.

What happens when we stop designing for an imaginary “average” person? Bandile Mndebele speaks with disability rights advocate and inclusive innovation researcher Bongani Mapumulo about accessibility, disability inclusion, identity, education, assistive technology and lived experience. The conversation explores how public spaces, institutions and technologies can exclude people—and why understanding people’s real lives must come before designing solutions for them. Inclusive design begins with listening. Guest: Bongani Mapumulo Topics: accessibility, disability inclusion, inclusive design, assistive technology, education, innovation, identity, universal design and technology. The Add IDEAS Podcast is an OTHERWISE production.

What kind of economic growth actually creates opportunity? Bandile Mndebele speaks with entrepreneur Avelile Nontanda about entrepreneurship, digital business, branding, South Africa’s informal economy and the realities that shape who gets to build and succeed. The conversation explores township economies, Black Tax, market access, digital platforms, identity and the challenge of building a more self-reliant economy. A conversation about entrepreneurship, economic opportunity and growth beyond the usual business playbook. Guest: Avelile Nontanda Topics: South Africa, entrepreneurship, economic growth, informal economy, township economy, Black Tax, digital business, branding and market access. The Add IDEAS Podcast is an OTHERWISE production.

What does it mean to build community when everyone arrives carrying something? Bandile Mndebele speaks with speaker, consultant and author Annemarie Shrouder about belonging, polarisation, healing, intersectionality and the lessons communities can take from the years following COVID-19. They explore what happens when we stop expecting people to arrive perfectly healed — and start creating spaces where people can do their own work while still belonging to something larger. Guest: Annemarie Shrouder Topics: community, belonging, trauma, healing, polarisation, intersectionality, COVID-19, relationships, social connection and inclusion. The Add IDEAS Podcast is an OTHERWISE production.

What does it take to build an entrepreneurial ecosystem outside the usual centres of power? Bandile Mndebele speaks with Hubspace founding director and venture scout Melilizwe Gqobo about entrepreneurship, township economies, patient capital, community, enterprise development and innovation. The conversation looks beyond the mythology of the lone founder to examine the infrastructure, relationships and support systems that allow businesses to survive and grow. Guest: Melilizwe Gqobo Topics: entrepreneurship, startups, innovation, township economy, patient capital, enterprise development, South Africa and business ecosystems. The Add IDEAS Podcast is an OTHERWISE production.