Nontando Hadebe

Dr Nontando Hadebe is a woman theologian and a member of The Circle of Concerned African Women Theologians and Catholic Women Speak/Preach as well as other organizations working on gender justice. She is based in Johannesburg, South Africa.  Nontando is also the current International Coordinator of Side by Side; an international faith movement for gender justice that Christian Aid is a global member of. 

Nontando was born in Zimbabwe. She started her career as a stenographer for the judges and registrar of the High Court of Zimbabwe and Bulawayo and eventually became Assistant Master in the Deceased Estates department. She changed course in life and embarked on an ecumenical journey which resulted in theological studies ranging from evangelical (Rosebank Bible College of South Africa) liberal and liberation theologies (University of Kwazulu/Natal South Africa- undergraduate and postgraduate) to Catholic Theology at St Augustine College of South Africa where she graduated with a doctorate in Theology. Her topic was ‘A Trinitarian Theological response to gender challenges in the context of HIV/AIDS in Southern Africa.’ This ecumenical theological background opened up interfaith engagement which enriched her life, theology, and activities. Nontando was awarded an International Fellowship at the Jesuit School of Theology, Berkeley, California, and a Fullbright Scholarship at Emmanuel College, Boston.

Nontando is a theology practitioner engaged in gender justice that has extended to include issues relating to ecology, sexual minorities, and people with disabilities. Her recent work and research has been informed by theories relating to decolonization and the historical legacy of colonialism, inherited hierarchies of power and inequality, intersectionality, situatedness, and contextuality.  She is passionate about the translation of women's liberation theologies into the everyday lives and experiences of women so that the promise of change can be both tested and affirmed.

Nontando hosts a weekly radio programme entitled ‘Looking at Life with Dr Nontando’ on Radio Veritas, the only Catholic Radio Station in South Africa where she tackles gender issues. She once spent three years going through the bible through a woman’s eyes as part of the programme broadcast.