South African businesswoman, Linda Mabhena-Olagunju, is fast becoming a big name in the renewable energy world, both in Africa and around the globe. Born and raised in a small village in the Eastern Cape, her journey into international headlines began when she took on former United States President Donald Trump in a legal battle—and won.
In 2007, while studying for her master’s degree in International and Commercial Law at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland, Linda joined the legal team of the Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group. The team was working on a project to tap into the powerful wind off the Scottish coast to generate clean electricity. But the project hit a major obstacle when Donald Trump stepped in. Trump, who had just built a luxury golf resort in Balmedie, was not happy about the wind turbines. He claimed they would ruin the view from his property and launched a legal fight to stop the project.
Linda, who was one of the youngest on the legal team, played her part in defending the wind energy project. After a long legal struggle, Trump lost the case and the project was allowed to go on. That early win gave Linda the confidence to keep pushing for clean energy, and she hasn’t looked back since.
Back home in South Africa, Linda has become a strong voice for green energy. She is the founder and CEO of DLO Energy Resources Group, a company that is involved in many clean energy projects across Africa. One of her biggest achievements is in De Aar, a town in the Northern Cape of South Africa. There, her company helped to build wind and solar farms that produce up to 244 megawatts of electricity. These projects don’t just help to power homes—they also create jobs, grow local businesses and give back to the community.
Linda has often spoken about the challenges she faces. Raising money for big projects in Africa is not easy, and government red tape can slow things down. But she says she’s committed to seeing African countries take control of their energy future. She believes that Africa should not always depend on foreign help, but should be at the front of the global move to clean energy.
Her hard work has received international recognition. Media mogul Oprah Winfrey named her as one of the 20 most powerful women in Africa. Linda has also featured on many local and international platforms for her contribution to environmental and economic development.
In a world struggling with climate change, Linda Mabhena-Olagunju’s story is one of hope and determination. Her work shows how one person, with the right skills and courage, can challenge the powerful and still stand tall. Even though she faced setbacks, especially from people like Trump, she continues to push for a future where Africa takes the lead in the global clean energy race.
Her journey is proof that with vision and hard work, success is possible—even in difficult spaces where the odds seem stacked against you.
