“I can’t imagine what happened. We will always be the founders of Sentebale, but this situation cannot be fixed.”
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Prince Siso of Lesotho resigned from Centeber, a charity founded nearly 20 years ago, after invading the organization.
They founded a charity in 2006 in honor of their mothers as a pledge to always remember and advocate for the most vulnerable things in society. Harry’s mother, Diana, and Princess of Wales were killed in a car accident in Paris.
Sentebale means “forget” in Sesotho
According to their website, Centeber is a charity supporting children and youth in Lesotho and Botswana, and has HIV and AIDS by providing “healthcare, critical life skills, education, advocacy, vocational training and climate revitalization.”
The council, including Prince Harry and Prince Siso of Lesotho, have announced that they will leave Centeber due to a dispute with Chairman Sophie Chandauka. In 2024, Sentebale announced a change in its mission to “deal with issues of health, wealth and climate resilience for young people in South Africa.”
Chandauka was reportedly asked to resign from her position regarding changes in Centeber’s mission, which she refused.
In a joint statement, Prince Harry and Sheeso said they resigned as patrons until further notice to support several councillors who did the same.
The statement read:
Almost 20 years ago, we founded Centebert in honor of our mothers. Sentebale is the local Lesotho language Sesotho, meaning “forgetting.” That is something we have always promised for the young people who have served through this charity.
The same goes for today.
With such a strong heart, we resigned from our role as patrons of the organization until we were able to support and solidarity, which we had to do the same. It is catastrophic that the relationship between the charity councillor and the board chair has broken down beyond repairs, creating an unacceptable situation.
These councillors acted in the greatest interests of charity in asking the chair to resign while keeping the happiness of their staff in mind. She then sued the charity, staying in this voluntary position, further highlighting her broken relationship.
We thank all the council members for their services over the years and are truly heartbroken that they had to follow this act.
I can’t imagine what happened. We are shocked that we have to do this, but we share all our concerns with the Charity Committee about how this came about as we have an ongoing responsibility to the beneficiaries of Sentebale.
We may no longer be clients, but we are always its founders and never forget what this charity can achieve when we are in proper care.
Chair fights back and claims bullying and misconduct
“This is against power abuse and murmurs attacks. I’m not threatened.”
Chandauka defended her position and denounced others in charities of “bullying, harassment, misogyny and devouring”…”
In a statement, Chandauka said she would take over her role.
“There are people in this world who act as if they were abusing people beyond the law, play victim cards and use the very press they despise to hurt people who have the courage to challenge their actions,” she said.
Chandouka became chairman after serving as corporate finance counsel on the Centeberg Committee between 2009 and 2015. She said she applied to the High Court to stay in her position, and the charity councillor also reported to the Charity Committee.
Her statement is fully read:
I have decided to join Centeber first and foremost as a proud African who, in the spirit of Ubuntu, understands that a lot is expected from many. Everything I do at Sentebale is pursuing the organization, its mission and the integrity of the youth we serve.
My actions are guided by the principles of fairness and fair treatment for all, regardless of social status or financial means. There are people in this world who behave as if they were abusing people beyond the law, then play the victim cards and use the very press they diminish to hurt people who have the courage to challenge their actions.
Distinguished readers will ask themselves: Why does the board chair report her own councillor to the Charity Committee? Why would the High Court of England and Wales accept her application to hear the matter if the case was not merit?
Now, under the stories and fiction of all the victims, what is syndicated in conjunction with the press is the story of a woman who has tried to blow whi over issues of poor governance, weak management issues, power abuse, bullying, harassment, devouring, murmursing genes, and the consequential concealment. I can be anyone.
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I happen to be an educated woman who understands that the law guides and protects me. At this point, I wouldn’t say anything more about this issue. I have one job. I must focus on raising funds for the very important work of young people who inspire Centebert’s incredible teams who are making sacrifices every day at a time when geopolitics is having a serious impact on funding for development work in Africa.
For me, this is not a vanity project that I can resign when called to my account. I am an African with world-class education and career privileges. I wouldn’t be scared. I have to support something. I represent other women who have no way or means.
I am standing by my side and thanking those who called for my urgent help so that I can continue my mission at Centebert. I will continue to faithfully carry out my role as Chairman of the Board. We look forward to the opportunity to work with others who are interested in the health, wealth and climate resilience of young people in Africa.
The UK’s Charity Commission said in a statement it was “aware of governance concerns” and “we will evaluate the issue to determine appropriate regulatory measures.”
