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Our Valuable 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’s Office

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

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 firm.

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 has worked on designing 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 four metropolitan municipalities in South Africa, in planning and designing pathways leading to incremental improvement of informal settlements mostly for vulnerable citizens living in urban areas. He has advised municipalities on alternative energy efficiency models for low cost-housing. Fred holds senior degrees in housing development and business administration.

Programme Staff Members

The programme unit comprises of coordinators at different levels and it is responsible for planning and coordinating the implementation of all programmes to meet all the set contractual obligations.

Mike Makwela

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

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

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

Chelesile Ndlovu-Nachamba

Resource & Communication Coordinator

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

Chelesile holds a BSc Honours degree in Journalism and Media studies and has certificates in Development Communication from Wits University; Social Media Management as well as stakeholder engagement. She is currently pursuing a Post Graduate Diploma in Public Law (Local Government) with the Dullar Omar Institute at the University of the Western Cape.

Her key function includes content creation, branding, publications, stakeholder relations, online and social media management.

Previously, Chelesile has worked for a non-profit organisation focused on developing high level skills for biodiversity in South Africa, as a Communications Officer.

Wetu Memela

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

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.

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

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

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.

In this section

Our values

How we work

How we are funded

Donor Partners

Katholische Zentralstelle fur Entwicklungshilfe e.V./MISEREOR.

Since 1992 Misereor has been providing support across the full range of Planact’s program activities. Read More »

Open Society Foundation – South Africa ( OSF-SA)

Planact has received support from OSF-SA since 2011. OSF-SA is committed to promoting the values, institutions and practices of an open, non-racial and non-sexist, democratic, civil society.
Read More »

Raith Foundation

Raith Foundation has been providing funding and support for social justice and believes that given South Africa’s particular history and current challenges. Read More »

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