About Us

The Planact Story

Planact is a non-profit organisation based in Johannesburg, working on eliminating the exclusion of vulnerable communities in local government processes. In an effort to realise this objective, Planact advocates accountability of municipalities to their respective communities and promotes the inclusion of vulnerable communities in local government policy, processes and practice.

The organisation was established in 1985 as a voluntary association (then), of professionals who came together to assist the community organisations to advocate for alternative development plans to the authorities during the apartheid regime. Planact therefore, contributed significantly in shaping the history of local government and urban development in post-apartheid South Africa

Become a Partner

Volunteer

Donate To Us

Committed to a More Equitable Society

Our Mission

All vulnerable people live in habitable environments of their choice and are able to advance their interests freely

Our Vision

Planact supports and facilitates processes that enable good local governance to achieve responsive neighbourhoods using interventions aimed at addressing the exclusion of vulnerable citizens from realising fair access to resources

Our Identity

Planact is a non-governmental organization committed to holistic development for people living in vulnerable conditions, focusing on the areas of integrated human settlements and participatory governance. This we do through project development, technical advice, social facilitation, capacity development, research and advocacy, and networking.

Our Values

Planact is committed to advancing the vision of a more just and equitable society, where discrimination based on race, gender, sexual orientation, income,  nationality, religion, age, disability and HIV/AIDS status no longer exists. Planact is guided by values of respect; integrity; meaningful participation; equity and  excellence. We strive towards integrating the following key issues into all aspects of our work: Environment awareness; Gender equality; Youth empowerment; HIV/AIDS awareness.

Our Board of Directors

The Board of Directors are responsible for providing overall strategic direction and policy approval, financial oversight and accountability, organisational sustainability and networking and currently consists of the following Directors:

Mr Seana Nkhahle

Mr Nkhahle is the Portfolio Head: Built Environment, South African Local Government Association (SALGA). He is the Chairperson of the Board of Directors at Planact.

Professor Steven Friedman

Professor Friedman is the Director of the Centre for the Study of Democracy, joint initiative of the University of Johannesburg and Rhodes University.

Professor Marie Huchzermeyer

Professor Huchzemeyer is a public intellectual at the School of Architecture and Planning at the University of the Witwatersrand with extensive research on informal settlements and urban policies.

Ms Jackie Sejenamane

Ms Sejenamane is a local governance and spatial planning consultant.

Associate Professor Wangechi Karuri-Sebina

Associate Professor Kakuri-Sebina is responsible for Digital Governance at the University of the Witswatersrand.

Mr Michael Kihato

Mr Kihato is a practitioner on urban law.

Our Team Members

Working for Planact offers a unique and fulfilling opportunity to make an enduring contribution to urban development in South Africa. Planact currently has a staff component of twelve employees, with seven staff members directly engaged in programme work and two staff members employed in administrative capacities. The organisation is hosting three interns for the purpose of contributing to their career development. Planact community encompasses partners and former employees,  most of whom hold important positions in reputable institutions.

Executive Director

The Executive Director’s office is responsible for the effective and efficient operations of the organisation, while adhering to all the statutory  requirements and the set organisational goals. This unit is made up of the Executive Director and the Operations Manager. It co-opts the Finance Manager when dealing with everyday management issues.

Frederick Kusambiza Kiingi

Executive Director

Bio

Tamzin Hudson

Operations Manager

Bio

Frederick Kusambiza Kiingi

Executive Director

Fred Kusambiza – Kiingi is the Executive Director at Planact and joined in January 2013. Prior to this appointment, he held employment in a non-governmental organization, an architectural consulting firm and a property development company.

He is an urban development planner with experience from the non-governmental (public) sector and private sector. He has undertaken assignments in various aspects of project planning, designing and development, in the urban and peri-urban forms. The assignments have dealt with developing inclusive urban economies, local governance development processes, alternative settlement development, architectural designing and management, as well as organizational development.

Specifically, he designed frameworks on concepts and models that have enabled citizens’ engagement with government institutions in local development processes, particularly in urban areas, to improve vulnerable citizens’ living conditions. He has led negotiations with selected metropolitan municipalities in South Africa, in planning and designing pathways leading to incremental improvement of informal settlements’ livelihoods mostly for vulnerable citizens living in urban areas. He has advised municipalities on alternative energy efficiency models for low cost-housing.

Fred has overseen the designing and development of non-profit organisations and has raised about R240million of grant-funding during the past 22 years.

Fred holds senior degrees in housing & urban development as well as business administration studies.

Tamzin

Operations Manager

Tamzin Hudson is the Programme Manager at Planact and joined in September 2023. Prior to this appointment, she worked for Habitat for Humanity International as manager for policy and advocacy, responsible for African operations. She has expertise in land reform and tenure practices as well as informal settlement upgrading processes. Her career started in diplomacy working for South Africa’s Department of Foreign Affairs. At the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs, her focus was on women’s political participation and deepening and expanding democratic processes in Southern Africa.

Ms Hudson has a Master’s Degree in International Studies and an Honours Degree in Political Science from the University of Stellenbosch. She also has Master’s Degree in Business Administration. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations from the University of the Witwatersrand and also holds a Bachelor of Laws from UNISA.

Mike Makwela

Senior Programme Coordinator

Mike joined Planact in March 1999. He is responsible for planning, implementation and monitoring of programmes. He leads the team that is responsible for community relations. Mike is enrolled in part-time studies in Housing Masters at the University of the Witwatersrand. He is an accredited Trainer/Facilitator and Assessor. He has a diploma in Informal Settlement Upgrading obtained from the Institute for Housing Studies at the Erasmus University in Rotterdam. He also has a Certificate in Housing Policy Development and Management with Wits University. He has worked as a trainer in the local government field and been involved in the organisation’s major programmes including conduction training on governance. He has extensive experience liaising with government representatives and community leaders. Previously Mike worked for COPE Housing Association, an NGO involved in Social Housing as a project officer.

Shumani Luruli

Programme Coordinator

Shumani joined Planact in January 2003. She is responsible for intermediary planning, implementation and monitoring of programmes. Shumani has a certificate in Housing Policy Development and Management obtained from the University of Witwatersrand in 2008. She is an accredited training facilitator (EDTP SETA). She has also completed core courses in Project Management, Administration and Bookkeeping. She has considerable experience in training and social facilitation in local governance and organisational development, as well as sustainable livelihoods analysis and community based responses to HIV/AIDS. Previously, Shumani worked for Akanani Rural Development Association (NGO) in Limpopo province, as a training officer.

Siphiwe Segodi

Programme Coordinator

Siphiwe joined Planact in January 2018 as a Programme Coordinator. He is responsible for planning, implementation and monitoring of programmes.

Siphiwe has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Policy Studies and is currently pursuing BA Honours degree in International Politics with the University of South Africa. He has received training on ethical and accountable governance from Freedom House.

He has project management skills and 10 years of experience in community initiatives support work, including defending and promoting human rights. He is member of the Thembelihle Crisis committee – a community based organisation – since 2001.
Previously, Siphiwe worked as Project Officer for the Freedom of Expression Institute with the primary focus on coordinating a national grassroots Freedom of Expression Network advancing various struggles and projects.

Chelesile Ndlovu-Nachamba

Information & Resource Coordinator

Chelesile joined Planact in April 2016. She is responsible for coordinating communication and resources, branding and stakeholder engagement as well as advocacy campaigns for Planact’s programmes.

Chelesile is currently pursuing an LL.M Degree in Law, State and Multilevel Government with the Dullah Omar Institute at the University of the Western Cape. She recently completed her Post Graduate Diploma in Public Law (Local Government) with the same university. She also has a BSc Honours degree in Journalism and Media studies. She has a certificate in Development Communication from the University of the Witwatersrand as well as social media management and  stakeholder engagement. 

Her key function includes crafting advocacy campaigns, content creation, brand management, publications, stakeholder relations and media liaison.

Previously, Chelesile has worked for non-profit organisations focused on developing high level skills for biodiversity in South Africa and another promoting democracy, governance and human rights, as a Communications Officer.

Wetu Memela

Assistant Programme Coordinator

Wetu joined Planact in October 2016 on an internship programme.

Wetu provides assistance in programme coordination and is involved in project components that the organisation implements.

Wetu has completed her Bachelor of Science, as well as, an Honours Degree in Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Witwatersrand. She is currently completing her Masters in Development Planning from the same university. She is passionate about development issues and eager to gain the experience and knowledge in order to register as a professional planner.

Bafana Tshabalala

Assistant Programme Coordinator

Bafana joined Planact in June 2019 on an internship programme. He provides support to programme coordinators, communication and resources.
Bafana has completed his National Diploma in Public Relations and Communications at the University of Johannesburg. He is currently completing his online certificate course on Street Addressing and the Management of Cities with the World Bank Group – Open Learning Campus.
Bafana is passionate about learning new things which will contribute to his experience in the Civil Society Sector and also bring change in the lives of people living in unproclaimed areas.

Hlengiwe Mbambo

Intern

Hlengiwe joined Planact in February 2022 on an internship programme. She is responsible for assisting with intermediate planning, implementation, and monitoring of programmes including evidence-generation.
Hlengiwe has obtained a Bachelor of Science Honors in Urban and Regional Planning, at the University of the Witwatersrand.
Hlengiwe has a student mentality and is always eager to learn and improver her professionalism and capacity.

Nonjabulo Magubane

Intern

Nonjabulo recently joined Planact in February 2023 on an internship programme.
Nonjabulo has completed her Bachelor of Science, as well as, an Honours Degree in Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Witwatersrand. She also hold a National Diploma in Land Surveying (Geomatics) which she completed at Tshwane University of Technology. She is passionate about development issues and eager to gain the experience and knowledge in order to register as a professional planner.

Spiro Paxinos

Financial Manager

Spiro joined Planact in 2003.

Spiro is responsible for the overall financial management of the organisation. He is also responsible for organisational administration and policy matters. He provides essential support for developing and monitoring programme and specific project budgeting.

He holds a Bachelor of Social Science degree from the University of Cape Town and a Diploma in Bookkeeping. He has 20 years of experience in accounting and financial management which includes commercial and micro-lending experience.

Tshidi Morotolo

Office Administrator

Tshidi joined Planact in 1995.

Tshidi is responsible for providing day to day administrative support, including financial monitoring, human resource administration, equipment resource allocation, information and communication systems, logistics and travel arrangements, record keeping and secretarial support for meetings. She holds a Diploma in Basic Bookkeeping and Pastel Accounting.

Programme Staff Members

Mike Makwela

Senior Programme Coordinator

Bio

Shumani Luruli

Programme Coordinator

Bio

Siphiwe Segodi

Programme Coordinator

Bio

Chelesile Ndlovu-Nachamba

Information & Resource Coordinator

Bio

Wetu Memela

Assistant Programme Coordinator

Bio

Bafana Tshabalala

Assistant Programme Coordinator

Bio

Hlengiwe Mbambo

Intern

Bio

Nonjabulo Magubane

Intern

Bio

Administrative Staff Members

The administration unit provides support to the entire organisation and links Planact to the external stakeholders. It is made up of three staff members.

Spiro Paxinos

Financial Manager

Bio

Tshidi Morotolo

Office Administrator

Bio

Current Donors

Past Donors

Network Partners

Partner Communities

City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality, Gauteng
  • Greater Sophiatown
  • Orange Farm
  • Orlando East, Soweto
  • Thembelihle Informal Settlement
City of Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality, Gauteng
  • Etwatwa Informal Settlements
  • KwaThema Informal Settlements
  • Tembisa Informal Settlement
  • Tsakane Informal Settlements
  • Vosloorus Informal Settlements
  • Wattville Informal Settlement
City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality, Gauteng
  • Kameeldrift, Pretoria
Emalahleni Local Municipality, Mpumalanga
  • Spring Valley
  • Masakhane
  • El Paso
  • Coronation
  • Benicoal
  • Mgewana
  • Lindokuhle