Honoring the Life and Legacy of Minister Sharna Fernandez
We celebrate the life, leadership, and lasting impact of Minister Sharna Fernandez.
In 2024, Caring For Others was honored to welcome Minister Fernandez to Atlanta for the International Poverty Forum—an encounter that would prove deeply meaningful and foundational in the establishment of Caring For Others South Africa (CFOSA).
Minister Fernandez arrived with a rare and powerful presence: one rooted equally in compassion and action. Her voice elevated global conversations on poverty eradication and reaffirmed a truth that guided her life’s work—that dignity, people, and servant leadership must sit at the center of every solution. Her encouragement and engagement helped strengthen Caring For Others’ international vision and expand its footprint in South Africa in enduring ways.
Sworn in as a Member of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament in 2014, Minister Fernandez was elected Speaker that same year and later appointed Western Cape Minister of Social Development in May 2019. Her public service was shaped by more than three decades in South Africa’s banking sector, where she rose to senior leadership and developed a deep respect for teamwork, accountability, and authentic leadership.
In 2009, a life-altering health crisis became a defining turning point. After a near-death experience and recovery, she committed herself fully to “paying it forward,” dedicating her life to service, advocacy, and uplifting the most vulnerable. She often described politics not as power, but as servant leadership—anchored in integrity, responsibility, and honoring the trust placed in her by the people she served.
Her leadership style was participatory and values-driven, grounded in faith, mindfulness, and an unwavering belief that people must always come first. Even after retiring from public office in 2024, she continued to serve her community through professional and civic engagement until her passing on November 14, 2025.
As the International Poverty Forum and Caring For Others reflect on the growth of CFOSA and our shared global mission, we do so with profound gratitude for Minister Sharna Fernandez’s life, leadership, and legacy. Her example reminds us that real impact is born when compassion meets action—and when service is not spoken, but lived.
We honor her memory.
And we carry her vision forward.
