{{Short description|South African lawyer and businesswoman}} {{notability|bio|date=August 2022}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}} {{Use South African English|date=October 2019}} {{Infobox person | birth_name = Noluthando Dorian Bahedile Orleyn | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1956|01|13|df=yes}} | birth_place = New Brighton, Cape Province<br />Union of South Africa | education = Inanda Seminary School | alma_mater = University of Fort Hare<br />University of South Africa | occupation = {{flatlist| *Lawyer *businesswoman}} | political_party = African National Congress | spouse = David Sekiti }} '''Noluthando Dorian Bahedile "Thandi" Orleyn''' (born 13 January 1956) is a South African lawyer and businesswoman who is currently the chairperson of Impala Platinum and BP Southern Africa. She rose to prominence in the business world as a co-founder and executive director of Peotona Holdings, a prominent black economic empowerment (BEE) investment vehicle. Before that, she was director of the public Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration and a practicing lawyer.
== Early life and education == Orleyn was born in New Brighton, a township outside Port Elizabeth in the former Cape Province.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=13 October 2008 |title=More power to the women |url=https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/2008-10-13-more-power-to-the-women/ |access-date=1 June 2025 |work=Sowetan}}</ref> She matriculated at Inanda Seminary School in 1974 and went on to study law at the University of Fort Hare and University of South Africa.'''<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Alumnae Profiles: Thandi Orleyn |url=https://www.inanda.org/alumnae/alumnae-profiles/42:alumnae/221:thandi-orleyn.html |access-date=2025-06-01 |website=Inanda Seminary}}</ref>''' She became involved in anti-apartheid activism as a teenager in the Cape Province and remained so after moving to Katlehong, where Bertha Gxowa became her political mentor.'''<ref name=":0" />'''
== Legal career == Orleyn spent the first decade of her career in legal practice at the progressive Legal Resources Centre before becoming national director of the Independent Mediation Service of South Africa during the post-apartheid transition.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2023-07-26 |title=Who We Are |url=https://lrc.org.za/who-we-are/ |access-date=2025-06-01 |website=Legal Resources Centre |language=en-US}}</ref> Between 1997 and 2002, she was national director of the post-apartheid Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA).<ref name="bb2">{{cite web |title=Noluthando Dorian Bahedile Orleyn BJuris, BProc, LLB |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/person.asp?personId=39650514&privcapId=112280696 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160222211431/https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/person.asp?personId=39650514&privcapId=112280696 |archive-date=22 February 2016 |accessdate=15 February 2016 |website=Bloomberg Business |publisher=}}</ref> Part of her tenure there was consumed by a prolonged internal controversy over the sacking of the commission's national registrar, Monde Zimema.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1999-09-09 |title=CCMA chief axed for sexual harassment |url=https://mg.co.za/article/1999-09-10-ccma-chief-axed-for-sexual-harassment/ |access-date=2025-06-01 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=1999-11-09 |title=Business, labour back CCMA |url=https://mg.co.za/article/1999-11-09-business-labour-back-ccma/ |access-date=2025-06-01 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2000-10-06 |title='Black outside, lily-white inside' |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2000-10-06-black-outside-lily-white-inside/ |access-date=2025-06-01 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}}</ref>
After leaving the CCMA, she returned to law practice at commercial law firm Routledge Modise.<ref name=":0" /> She also spent time as an adjunct professor in labour law at the University of Cape Town and co-wrote a book on the law of workplace sexual harassment, ''Sexual Harassment in the Workplace: Law, Policies and Processes'', that was published in 2005.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=8 August 2005 |title=Managing sexual harassment |url=https://www.news24.com/life/managing-sexual-harassment-20050808 |access-date=2025-06-01 |website=News24 |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Business career == In 2005 Orleyn co-founded an investment vehicle called Peotona Holdings with Cheryl Carolus, Dolly Mokgatle, and Wendy Lucas-Bull.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=3 December 2006 |title=Woman power |url=https://www.pressreader.com/south-africa/sunday-times-1107/20061203/284004712693322?srsltid=AfmBOoqj7x8GEk5FgDTKEBI3nrEErR2KXZ7HjxOEBgfJipKdW7oY83kT |access-date=2025-06-01 |website=Sunday Times |via=PressReader}}</ref> The company launched that year in a high-profile R3.8-billion black economic empowerment (BEE) transaction that saw Peotona, in partnership with Manne Dipico's Ponaholo Investment Holdings, acquire a minority stake in De Beers Consolidated Mines.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2005-11-08 |title=De Beers sells 26% of DBCM to BEE entity |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2005-11-08-de-beers-sells-26-of-dbcm-to-bee-entity/ |access-date=2025-06-01 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}}</ref> Peotona was also a lead partner in a R1.1-billion BEE deal with Lafarge in 2006,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2006-07-31 |title=BEEing Madame Lafarge |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2006-07-31-beeing-madame-lafarge/ |access-date=2025-06-01 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}}</ref> and it did a R1.1-billion BEE deal with electronics group Reunert in 2007.<ref>{{Cite web |date=20 November 2006 |title=Reunert in R1.1bn BEE deal |url=https://www.news24.com/business/reunert-in-r11bn-bee-deal-20061120 |access-date=2025-06-01 |website=News24 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=7 February 2007 |title=BEE deal for 'filthy rich' |url=https://www.news24.com/business/bee-deal-for-filthy-rich-20070207 |access-date=2025-06-01 |website=News24 |language=en-US}}</ref> As part of the latter deal, Orleyn became a non-executive director of Reunert in May 2007.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Guest |first=Kimberly |date=2007-05-25 |title=Reunert appoints SARB director |url=https://www.itweb.co.za/article/reunert-appoints-sarb-director/xA9PO7NXO6mqo4J8 |access-date=2025-06-01 |website=ITWeb |language=en}}</ref> In 2008 Empowerdex ranked her ninth on its list of South Africa's 50 most powerful black directors,'''<ref>{{Cite web |date=2008-09-02 |title=Blazing the BEE trail: men and women of influence |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2008-09-02-blazing-the-bee-trail-men-and-women-of-influence/ |access-date=2025-06-01 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}}</ref>''' and by 2012 she was the fifth richest woman in the country according to the ''Sunday Times'' Rich List.'''<ref>{{Cite news |last=Masote |first=Mamello |date=16 September 2012 |title=Just one woman makes the top 100 |url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/sunday-times/lifestyle/2012-09-16-just-one-woman-makes-the-top-100/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250216161404/https://www.timeslive.co.za/sunday-times/lifestyle/2012-09-16-just-one-woman-makes-the-top-100/ |archive-date=2025-02-16 |access-date=2025-06-01 |work=Sunday Times |language=en-ZA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Sibanyoni |first=Mpho |date=18 September 2012 |title=Blacks on top of rich list |url=https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/business/2012-09-18-blacks-on-top-of-rich-list/ |access-date=1 June 2025 |work=Sowetan}}</ref>'''
In 2011, Orleyn was appointed as chairperson of the board of BP Southern Africa, replacing Rams Ramashia.<ref>{{Cite news |date=23 April 2011 |title=Trading places: Multitasker to head up BP's board |url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/sunday-times/lifestyle/2011-04-23-trading-places-multitasker-to-head-up-bps--board/ |access-date=1 June 2025 |work=Sunday Times}}</ref> She was a board member of Impala Platinum (Implats) between 2004 and 2015 and returned in 2020 as Implats chairperson, replacing Mandla Gantsho.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Gernetzky |first=Karl |date=3 August 2020 |title=Implats names Thandi Orleyn as new board chair |url=https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/companies/management/2020-08-03-implats-names-thandi-orleyn-as-new-board-chair/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220810020415/https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/companies/management/2020-08-03-implats-names-thandi-orleyn-as-new-board-chair/ |archive-date=2022-08-10 |access-date=2025-06-01 |work=Business Day |language=en-ZA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Slater |first=Donna |date=3 August 2020 |title=Implats appoints chairperson designate |url=https://www.miningweekly.com/article/implats-appoints-chairperson-designate-2020-08-03 |access-date=2025-06-01 |website=Mining Weekly |language=en}}</ref> She has also served on the boards of Toyota South Africa and Ceramic Industries.'''<ref name="bb2"/>'''
== Other activities == Among her other stints in public service, Orleyn has served as chairperson of the remuneration committee of the South African Reserve Bank;<ref>{{Cite web |date=2008-09-05 |title=Huge pay hike for Mboweni |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2008-09-05-huge-pay-hike-for-mboweni/ |access-date=2025-06-01 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}}</ref> as chairperson of the council of the University of Fort Hare;<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fengu |first=Msindisi |date=10 March 2019 |title=Fort Hare vice-chancellor under fire over alleged affair with employee |url=https://www.news24.com/citypress/news/fort-hare-vice-chancellor-under-fire-over-alleged-affair-with-employee-20190310 |access-date=2025-06-01 |website=News24 |language=en-US}}</ref> and as a director of the Ombudsman for Banking Services,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2004-03-04 |title=New terms for banking ombudsman |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2004-03-04-new-terms-for-banking-ombudsman/ |access-date=2025-06-01 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}}</ref> Cricket South Africa,<ref>{{Cite web |date=5 September 2008 |title=SA will maintain Zim relations |url=https://www.news24.com/sport/sa-will-maintain-zim-relations-20080905 |access-date=2025-06-01 |website=News24 |language=en-US}}</ref> and the Industrial Development Corporation.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-01-30 |title=Qhena handed third term as CEO of IDC |url=https://www.miningmx.com/off-the-wires/12162-qhena-handed-third-term-as-ceo-of-idc/ |access-date=2025-06-01 |website=Miningmx |language=en-ZA}}</ref> In 2019 she was a member of the seven-member selection panel, chaired by Trevor Manuel, that advised President Cyril Ramaphosa to appoint Edward Kieswetter as commissioner of the South African Revenue Service.<ref>{{Cite news |date=27 March 2019 |title=Edward Kieswetter appointed new Sars commissioner |url=https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/national/2019-03-27-breaking-news-edward-kieswetter-appointed-new-sars-commissioner/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250316091212/https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/national/2019-03-27-breaking-news-edward-kieswetter-appointed-new-sars-commissioner/ |archive-date=2025-03-16 |access-date=2025-06-01 |work=Business Day |language=en-ZA}}</ref>
She is a member of the African National Congress (ANC) and in March 2022 was appointed to serve in the party's internal National Disciplinary Committee.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mahlati |first=Zintle |date=28 March 2022 |title=ANC switches up its disciplinary arm, ditches corruption accused members |url=https://www.news24.com/southafrica/news/anc-switches-up-its-disciplinary-arm-ditches-corruption-accused-members-20220328 |access-date=2025-06-01 |website=News24 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sidimba |first=Loyiso |date=2022-03-28 |title=ANC appoints corruption busters into its disciplinary body |url=https://iol.co.za/news/politics/2022-03-28-anc-appoints-corruption-busters-into-its-disciplinary-body/ |access-date=2025-06-01 |website=IOL |language=en}}</ref> She is also a member of the board of the South African branch of the International Women's Forum and the chairperson of the Legal Resources Centre.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-10-13 |title=Thandi Orleyn (Adv) |url=https://www.iwfsa.co.za/members/ms-thandi-orleyn/ |access-date=2025-06-01 |website=IWFSA South Africa |language=en-ZA}}</ref><ref name=":1" />
== Honours == In 2025, the University of Fort Hare awarded Orleyn an honorary doctorate.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Linden |first=Aretha |date=2025-04-01 |title=University of Fort Hare to bestow Honorary Doctorates on highly distinguished individuals |url=https://www.ufh.ac.za/news/university-of-fort-hare-to-bestow-honorary-doctorates-on-highly-distinguished-individuals |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250401123911/https://www.ufh.ac.za/news/university-of-fort-hare-to-bestow-honorary-doctorates-on-highly-distinguished-individuals |archive-date=2025-04-01 |access-date=2025-06-01 |work=University of Fort Hare |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Feni |first=Lulamile |date=5 May 2025 |title=Veteran lawyer and activist to be honoured by Fort Hare at age 102 |url=https://www.dailydispatch.co.za/news/2025-05-05-veteran-lawyer-and-activist-to-be-honoured-by-fort-hare-at-age-102/ |access-date=1 June 2025 |work=Daily Dispatch}}</ref>
== Personal life == She is married to David Sekiti, with whom she has three children.'''<ref name=":0" />'''
==References== {{Reflist}}
== External links ==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20161025041208/http://www.iwfsa.co.za/index.php/iwf-members/members-gallery/item/286-ms-thandi-orleyn Ms Thandi Orleyn] at International Women's Forum * [https://www.peotona.co.za/ Peotona Group Holdings] website {{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Orleyn, Thandi}} Category:1956 births Category:Living people Category:People from Gqeberha Category:South African businesspeople Category:University of Fort Hare alumni Category:University of South Africa alumni Category:21st-century South African businesswomen Category:21st-century South African businesspeople Category:20th-century South African lawyers Category:21st-century South African lawyers Category:20th-century South African women lawyers Category:21st-century South African women lawyers