Tutu Fellows and his 2008 classmates are paying tribute to Paul Kapelus, who died on 16 February 2025, leaving a wife and two daughters. At the time of his passing, he was a Director of Synergy Global Consulting. The immediate outpouring of grief and sadness from Fellows at news of his passing is testament to how close he was to many. 

In the words of AFLI CEO and 2009 Fellow Lai Yahaya, "I remember every conversation I ever had with Paul, each being more meaningful than the last. He was wise, thoughtful and empathetic. But he lives on - through every person he touched, every connection he made, every soul he nurtured. He really did exemplify the sort of person we all aspire to be." 

In his last message to the Tutu Fellows that he shared on the Thursday before his passing, Paul wrote the following:

I thought to share this. Ernest Hemingway once wrote:

"The hardest lesson I have had to learn as an adult is the relentless need to keep going, no matter how broken I feel inside.

This truth is raw, unfiltered, and painfully universal. Life doesn’t stop when we are exhausted, when our hearts are shattered, or when our spirits feel threadbare. It keeps moving—unyielding, indifferent—demanding that we keep pace. There is no pause button for grief, no intermission for healing, no moment where the world gently steps aside and allows us to mend. Life expects us to carry our burdens in silence, to push forward despite the weight of all we carry inside.

The cruelest part? No one really prepares us for this. As children, we are fed stories of resilience wrapped in neat, hopeful endings—tales where pain has purpose and every storm clears to reveal a bright horizon. But adulthood strips away those comforting illusions. It teaches us that survival is rarely poetic. More often than not, it’s about showing up when you’d rather disappear, smiling through pain no one sees, and carrying on despite feeling like you're unraveling from the inside out.

And yet, somehow, we persevere. That’s the quiet miracle of being human. Even when life is relentless, even when hope feels distant, we keep moving. We stumble, we break, we fall to our knees—but we get up. And in doing so, we uncover a strength we never knew we had. We learn to comfort ourselves in the ways we wish others would. We become the voice of reassurance we once searched for. Slowly, we realize that resilience isn’t always about grand acts of bravery; sometimes, it’s just a whisper—“Keep going.” "

Yes, it’s exhausting. Yes, it’s unfair. And yes, there are days when the weight of it all feels unbearable. But every small step forward is proof that we haven’t given up. That we are still fighting, still holding on, still refusing to let the darkness consume us. That quiet defiance—choosing to exist, to try, to hope—is the bravest thing we do.

As Tutu Fellows we are all called to step into the meaning of these words, but this group and individuals provide the support to do so. Thanks to everyone that has supported me in my small endevours to be braver than I thought I could be.

 The co-founder of the African Leadership Institute, Peter Wilson, wrote: “I was deeply saddened to hear of Paul's passing. He was still so young and full of energy and good will, and I am sure that despite the tremendous amount he had already achieved for his fellow human beings, he had plans to do even more, despite the pain he was clearly suffering. Paul lived the values of our Patron, Archbishop Tutu, leading the fight for equity and justice for all - a true Tutu Fellow. He will be sorely missed by the Tutu Fellows community, but also by the broader community he served. My condolences to his family on the passing of an exceptional human being."

Aidan Eyakuze wrote of Paul: "We worked together when he did the heavy lifting to help set up a mechanism to protect and compensate victims of abuse and brutality around a diamond mine in Tanzania. Paul is a golden soul!  May the afterlife rejoice in his company! Those of us on this plane will miss him terribly!  Thank you for your powerful words!  And thank you for persevering in Tanzania! Many people - harassed, abused, despised - will be eternally grateful to you without even knowing it! Asante sana!"

James Mwangi said "I am so deeply shocked and saddened by this news. Paul was such a pillar of this community that it is hard to fathom his passing. I just looked again at his last message to us and remember being so grateful to read it in these difficult times. He was a kind and wise soul and will be deeply missed."

Tracey Webster said that she first remembered meeting Paul in the early 2000s at a GIBS programme, a group of like-minded individuals who chose to see the world not how it is, but rather how we wished it to be. "We were young white South Africans deeply aware of our privilege, but committed to playing a role in transforming our country in our various spheres of influence. Paul dedicated most of his life to fighting on behalf of disenfranchised mining communities and pushing mining companies to put transformation at the heart of their strategy. He was a strong leader who walked with humility and was respected by all his stakeholders. Through his authenticity, probing questions of the group, sharing of lived experiences by making himself vulnerable, he quickly stood out as some-one you trusted and wanted to journey along-side. I enjoyed engaging with him not only through the whatsapp group, but one-on-one coffees, Tutu dinners and alumni reunions. Paul modelled out active listening like no-one else I know, he honoured your time and presence, offered sage advise, and had the ability to make you look at a problem through new eyes. He was such a gentle intellect, incredibly compassionate when going through times of trial, I remember him reaching out while I was desperately ill with Covid in hospital, his messages were soothing balm to my soul. He always spoke about his family with such admiration and you got the feeling his girls were his pride and joy. He had a thirst for learning from other peoples perspectives, experiences, cultures and beliefs he was deeply spiritual, a life learner, a mentsh, a change agent, a humble servant leader and walking example of what a Tutu Fellow represents in the world! Paul, you will be sorely missed by us Fellows but never forgotten, your star will light up the night sky, and I like to think you will still guide us through trying times. Fly high Paul! Rest in Peace you were pure magic! Condolences to your precious family, he always spoke about you with such admiration, you were adored by him."

Moses Alobo remembered Paul as "one of the most grounded people I knew."  Linda Kasonde wrote "he was lovely. May his soul rest in peace." Eric Charas wrote that there was too much to say in memory of Paul online and Fellows were planning on gathering to remember him at his funeral.

Terence Sibiya - We all have an insatiable desire to make a meaningful impact during our time on earth, but very few of us ever really achieve this aspiration. Paul was one such individual. He lived intentionally and with a deep sense of purpose. Hence it was always easy for me to reach out to him on any subject matter that was of any interest to me or needed and extra set of eyes. Once such example was when I was looking for additional Board Members for the Drakensberg Boys Choir School. He was the first to come to mind. While he couldn’t join due to other commitments, he pointed me in the right direction. He remained a strong supporter of the school till his last days. Paul was such a gentle soul and a kind hearted individual. He will be sorely missed. RIP my brother.

Lynette Ntuli: "There are losses and moments that transcend words and our limited understanding of how the world and heavens work. This is one of them. Paul, thank you for being not just a friend but a brother to so many of us who received the good grace to cross paths with you. A generous force, an incredible mind, the kindest and sincere hearted soul to a fault, consistently. Always listening and curious, even in the quiet as were your ways - it never went unnoticed. Watch over your loved ones and the crazy beautiful continent you loved so much. You will be missed; as will your special Wilderness. May you rest just as you lived, in perfect peace."

Robin Perks: “Paul’s loss hit me so incredibly profoundly as he was one of the best and kindest people I have ever ever had the incredible privilege of meeting. We spoke often and the last call I had to him was to send him someone to help him. Instead of him helping Paul, he ended up helping and mentoring this person and paying it forward (big time) as Paul always did, and told no one. On his passing, this gentleman called me absolutely devastated and told me how broken he was, and that Paul had helped him. Paul was helping him so much and had in his normal way always found a way to always pay it forward and be the person I so wish I was. I very sincerely and from the depths of my heart want Paul’s family to know how much he meant to ALL of us. Your dad/husband/family was more loved than you can ever imagine. Our whatsapp groups on his passing lit up with comments on the impact he had on ALL of us. He was ALWAYS an example to me and someone I looked up to when I needed to know “what the right thing to do was”. He spoke often about his family and always with that twinkle in his eye and loved so so much. I remember being so taken by him, I invited him to my daughter's 5th birthday years ago, with his family, as I thought what an incredible example he would be to my kids . He was out of town and could not make it, but not even knowing my family sent a long message and a gift. He was a giant in the world of making a difference in business and remember him talking to me about a very senior non-executive role he wanted to take, but his moral compass was so strong he never compromised who he was if he knew it was wrong. My friend you are so so sorely missed , more than you can EVER imagine, you are SO LOVED and whenever I go on in life with a tough decision I will always think of “what Paul would do” to know if I am doing the right thing. I so wanted to be at the funeral and will be online. God bless all his family and friends at this incredibly tough time and he was one of the VERY best, one of the REALLY good guys and we will miss him more than he can EVER imagine and has left a gaping whole that will never be replaced”

Other memories of Paul were shared by Fellows:

Mema Beye: "Prayer for a great man. A Huge and caring heart. A visionary that I was blessed to meet through this Fellowship and who helped shaped some of the best work we did in the Social investment space for mining, oil and gas operators. May his soul rest in power, may his legacy carry on through us and all those he blessed with his wisdom."

Edzai Zvobwo: "Oh no, Paul, my twin. We celebrated our birthday less than a month ago. Go well my friend, you were always amazing. Great person gone too soon. Rest well."

Tshepo Ditshego: "Rest in peace Paul. What an incredible human being. He was such a wise, considerate and kind man."

Hopewell Chin’ono: "Paul was one of the most honest people I ever met. What he could do, he would do; what he could not do, he would say so. He was a remarkable human being. He was one of the Fellows who spared their time to make sure I had settled in well when I moved to Johannesburg last year, yet he was a very busy man, he had love. The fellowship has lost a good man. May his soul rest in peace. Condolences to his family and friends."

Bibi Bakare-Yusuf: "Paul was in my cohort and we developed a friendship in the early days. He was wise and compassionate and always going out of his way for others. He talked a lot about his daughters and his ambition for them and his concern about their safety in an unequal and patriarchal world. He also once told me that he hoped they are as strong and as opinionated as me. His girls and his wife now have a powerful ancestor watching over them, guiding them into light and strength so they can walk in their own shoes, bravely and comfortably.  Go well…Paul"

Oliver Karius - "I’ve been deeply moved by these posts. Although not a Tutu Fellow, I’m a fellow South African working across Africa on sustainability issues. I’ve been privileged to know many of you, a community I deeply respect.  Paul was more than a friend, he was a cherished companion. Our bond began in a sandpit as children in Johannesburg, rooted in a shared love for Africa. I considered Paul a "Wayfinder," someone whose journey was about more than reaching a destination. He honoured a spiritual connection to ancestral wisdom and traditions while navigating the complexities of the present. He was a bridge builder between companies, governments, and local communities, fostering peace and collaboration. We often spoke about how to best empower these communities and support their capacity to build their futures. His extensive experience informed his perspectives, rooted in deep empathy, humility, and equality.Paul lived with intention, a quality that became even more apparent in navigating complex changes in his life, including his recent move to the Cape and the global shifts that greatly impacted his work. In a recent call, I saw him evolving into a wise elder, embracing change with grace. While his new home felt unfamiliar, he welcomed the transition with the same openness that had always defined him—eager to learn, grow, and contribute. We discussed the importance of community, letting go of the past, and simplicity in navigating life’s uncertainties. Later, Paul sent me a photo of the back of a T-shirt that read: Kind heart, open mind, brave spirit. He added, "Sometimes the simplest words capture complex situations."  I am deeply grateful for knowing Paul, a true "Mensch," whose integrity and actions inspired all who knew him. His love for his family anchored him, and his questions, including "What is the right way to build a more sustainable, just society?" served as a Southern Cross. May Paul’s light and inspiration for a better world carry us forward."

Paul was a director of Synergy Global Consulting, where his work for more than two decades was at the intersection of business and society. He worked to solve complex problems through collaboration, diving into difficult situations, and applying strategy and design thinking approaches for effective outcomes. He was equally comfortable engaging with Boards of Governors, C-Suite executives, and Government Ministers as he is in a village with leaders and disrupters. 

Paul died of a heart attack on 16 February 2025, while mountain biking.

 Header image - Paul Kapelus (center, back with cap) at the 10-year anniversary of the Tutu Fellowship at Nirox in 2016.