Nonhlanhla Mokwena was born in Meadowlands, Soweto and raised by her maternal grandparents.

She is the Executive Director of People Opposing Women Abuse (POWA) and her responsibilities include overseeing effective and efficient service delivery within all POWA counseling services, media interviews, public speaking and fundraising and the overall management of POWA.

Her career began in 1997 as a Junior Social Worker in one of the POWA shelters. In 2002, she was promoted to Shelter Manager and worked for POWA until February 2004.

Nonhlanhla then took a position of HIV and AIDS Coordinator with the Department of Social Development. Her responsibilities included grant making and development work with projects assisting orphans and childheaded households.

In 2006 she continued her career with the National Lotteries Distribution Trust Fund in the charities sector as a Grant Officer. She was responsible for assessing application and preparing them for adjudication by the Distribution Agency.

According to Nonhlanhla, “I believe in making a difference in women’s lives. The two things that keep me grounded are my family and spirituality.”