South African Icons Join Forces to Lead Defender's R24 Million Conservation Initiative

South Africa’s conservation and humanitarian efforts received a significant boost this week as three of the nation’s most respected figures were announced as panelists for the inaugural Defender Awards. Rugby legend Bryan Habana, expedition leader Ross Holgate, and conservation expert Ivy Wairimu will spearhead the South African selection committee for this ambitious £1 million (approximately R24 million) global initiative.

The announcement, made earlier today in Pretoria, marks a pivotal moment for local conservation and humanitarian organizations seeking crucial funding and support for their frontline work.

The trio brings decades of collective experience in conservation and humanitarian work. Holgate, the operations leader for the Kingsley Holgate Foundation, has dedicated his life to humanitarian expeditions across Africa, focusing on malaria prevention, providing reading glasses to remote communities, and addressing water scarcity in drought-affected regions.

Wairimu heads Conservation Partnerships at Tusk, an organization with a 20-year partnership history with Defender. Under her leadership, Tusk has implemented progressive conservation strategies targeting poaching, habitat loss, and human-wildlife conflict across the continent.

Completing the panel is World Cup-winning Springbok Bryan Habana, whose post-rugby career has focused on empowering young South Africans through his eponymous foundation. As chairman of Laureus Sport for Good Foundation South Africa, Habana has consistently championed sports as a vehicle for social change.

Janico Dannhauser, Defender’s Brand Manager, emphasized the significance of these partnerships: “Defender is renowned for forging enduring relationships with various organisations that exist for the primary goal of advancing the betterment of the world through humanitarian and conservation causes,”

The awards will recognize outstanding contributions across four critical categories:

Defenders of the Wild: Protecting endangered and vulnerable species
Defenders of Humanity: Supporting at-risk communities
Defenders of the Land: Safeguarding fragile ecosystems
Defenders of the Sea: Preserving marine environments

Winners from South Africa and six other countries (UK, France, Germany, Italy, Australia, and Japan) will each receive a £100,000 (approximately R2.4 million) grant, a specially-equipped Defender vehicle, and expert mentorship to enhance their impact in hard-to-reach areas.

For South African conservation and humanitarian organizations, this represents a rare opportunity to secure comprehensive support that addresses both funding constraints and operational challenges. The application window opens on April 28, with submissions closing on June 16, 2025.

Organizations interested in applying can submit their entries through Land Rover South Africa’s website. With the caliber of the selection committee and the comprehensive nature of the support package, competition is expected to be fierce among South Africa’s conservation and humanitarian communities.

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Papi Mabele

Papi Mabele has a marketing background, he is a digital marketing expert with extensive experience in launching and building global brands in the emerging markets. Papi is also an avid tech writer, enthusiast and all round tech junkie. As a freelance writer and analyst he has been numerously published in Popular Mechanics (SA), GQ South Africa, Premier Magazine, Driven Magazine, Bloem News, Courant, The Weekly, Enthooze Magazine and PiE magazine amongst others.