Young Mandelas 2025 | Savanna Sibutha’s Yoga Transformation

Savanna Sibutha’s journey is a powerful story of resilience, healing, and giving back. Recognized in the Mental Health category for Young Mandelas 2025 by News24, Savanna has spent the last nine years practicing yoga, a discipline she credits with saving her during her high school years. “Yoga saved me in high school,” she told News24, reflecting on how the practice transformed her life’s trajectory since she first encountered it in Grade 11 in 2016.

Growing up in Alexandra, one of South Africa’s poorest suburbs in Gauteng, Savanna faced profound challenges. After losing her mother at a young age, she was raised by her older sisters. The loss left deep emotional scars and practical hurdles. “I’ve never known my mom, and because of that, I struggled getting documentation. It took me four years after high school to get an ID,” she shared. This lack of documentation plunged her into an anxiety spiral, with fears about her future.

In the midst of this uncertainty, yoga became her lifeline. Introduced to the practice through a community program, Savanna found solace in breathwork, mantras, and meditation. “I think yoga is who I am,” she says, describing how it brought her peace and purpose. The practice helped her manage her anxiety and stay grounded, allowing her to navigate her challenges with newfound clarity and strength.

Today, Savanna is a certified kundalini yoga instructor and tutor, dedicating her life to uplifting her community. As a project manager and yoga instructor at Stretch Education SA, she teaches yoga in high schools, English in primary schools, and runs afternoon programs. Her work is deeply personal, driven by a desire to support others facing similar struggles. “It gives me great joy because I’m able to go back to the kids in high school. And I’m able to just hold their hand and say, this is what you know now, but there’s more to life,” she explains.

Savanna’s efforts have not gone unnoticed.

Her recognition as one of the Young Mandelas in 2025 celebrates her commitment to fostering mental health and resilience through yoga. By sharing her journey and tools for healing, she’s creating a ripple effect of hope and empowerment in Alexandra and beyond.

To connect with Savanna directly, reach out to her at savannasibutha@gmail.com.

Savanna Sibutha is a Project Manager and Yoga Instructor at Stretch Education SA | News24