From Pain to Purpose

I am writing this message in support of Teboho Mahlatsi, a deeply passionate, driven, and purpose-led individual I had the privilege of meeting at AI Expo Africa 2024. Teboho’s story is one of tragedy turned into purpose, and his journey is nothing short of inspiring.

Teboho tragically lost his younger brother in 2013 after 29 painful days in ICU due to plant poisoning that severely impacted his lungs. The heartbreak of watching a loved one battle for life sparked in Teboho a desire to seek better solutions — to find ways that technology, law, and innovation could come together to prevent such loss.

While he was still processing this pain, he endured yet another profound loss — the passing of his mother following surgery for a perforated stomach ulcer. She contracted COVID-19 in the hospital and sadly didn’t make it. These life-altering events ignited a fire in Teboho to not just mourn, but move forward with intention.

He went on to study Law, Criminal Justice, and Industry 4IR Technologies, equipping himself with the tools to understand how artificial intelligen...