The Ditikeni Panel consists of a number of experienced persons who are willing to represent Ditikeni on the boards of our investment partners. Currently, Ditikeni is represented on the boards of seven out of the sixteen companies in which we have invested. A short CV of each Panel member is supplied with the list.
Please contact our Company Secretary if you would like more information about the Ditikeni Panel: michaelhands@ditikeni.co.za
Deena Bosch
Cape Town
Deena Bosch has a long association with Scat, one of Ditikeni’s largest shareholders, having worked as a fieldworker and Development Fund Coordinator. Deena has also worked as a senior staff member at the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) and at the Aids Law Project and as Field Manager for the Women on Farms Project, based in Stellenbosch. Deena serves as a member of the Board of Scat and the Community Media Trust and represents Ditikeni on the Board of HWB Communications. Deena joined the Ditikeni Board in February 2013.
Rod Bulman
Pietermaritzburg
Rod Bulman holds a BCom (UNISA), an MSocSci (Natal) and a PGCE (London). Rod’s consultancy business, Phelamanga Projects, specialises in policy, development, public participation and environmental planning; with divisions supporting education policy and implementation development, and workplace skills training and development. Rod was previously Registrar of the Federal Theological Seminary of Southern Africa and Executive Governor of Epworth School. He has served on numerous Boards, and is currently a founding Trustee of The Trust for Community Outreach and Education and a Board member of Church Land Programme, both Ditikeni shareholders. Rod joined the Ditikeni Board in October 1999.
Jennifer De Tolly
Cape Town
Jennifer De Tolly holds a degree in Architecture (UCT). She practises architecture part time and is involved in her family’s business. She is a Trustee of the Black Sash Trust and the Chair of the Finance Committee.
Reuben Denge
Johannesburg
Reuben Denge holds the position of Unit Head for Group Compliance and Advisory Services, City of Johannesburg. He has for many years occupied senior positions in the Johannesburg Municipality. Reuben has been involved in the development of the black trade union movement as Director of the Workers’ Education Project. He joined the Ditikeni Board in August 2005.
Phetsile Dlamini
Pretoria
Phetsile joined the Ditikeni Board in January 2018. She is a professional coach and consultant. She holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Durham University.
Greg Erasmus
Cape Town
Greg Erasmus holds a BA. Law and B.Soc.Sci (Hons) from UCT and has several years of management experience in both the private and NGO sectors. He is a former Executive Director of the Social Change Assistance Trust (Scat). Greg is a PMI-accredited project manager and has worked extensively in the mobile telecommunications sector. He is currently Senior Business Consultant with CSG International.
Karen Krakowitzer
Gauteng
Karen Krakowitzer is the Founder of Karen Krakowitzer Consulting, a Development Consultancy focused on enabling and accelerating social impact, and contributing toward sustainability of the non-profit organisation (NPO) sector, in South Africa. Karen has a BCompt (Accounting) Honours degree, is a fellow of the Leadership and Innovation Network for Collaboration in the Children’s sector in South Africa and is a member of the Institute of Directors and the CGF Research Institute (Pty) Ltd. Karen also serves on the Board of the Field Band Foundation. Karen established, and was appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of, Noah Sustainability Trust (NST) – a broad-based empowerment and investment vehicle – in the beginning of 2013 after serving as CEO of Noah NPC – a child protection NPO and the sole beneficiary of NST – for nearly four years. Karen possesses a wide range of skills in both development and business – she comes from a solid corporate background, having joined Noah NPC following many years in Telecommunications in which she occupied positions in project management, marketing, customer relationship management, and product development and management.
Noluvuko Mathibe
Johannesburg
Noluvuko was appointed an independent Non-Executive Director of Britehouse Specialist SAP Division in September 2009 which was a move from the then sister company Eventus Consulting. Noluvuko has worked for blue chip companies in the fields of accounting, brand marketing and consumer market research prior to heading up her own market research company, Consumer Conversations cc, which specialises in Consumer and B2B research. Noluvuko has a BComm (Fort Hare) and an MBA from Wits Business School. Noluvuko serves as a Ditikeni representative on the Board of Advance Call.
Grace Matlhape
Johannesburg
Grace Matlhape is the Chief Executive of South Africa’s large scale and comprehensive national HIV prevention campaign for young people, loveLife. She has working experience in behaviour change HIV prevention for the past eight years. Grace has worked in the field of social justice and development in South Africa for a number of years including in the position as Chief Executive for the Witwatersrand Mental Health Society. Grace holds a BA (Social Work) Hons from the University of South Africa; and a Masters in Commerce (M Com) in Business Management from the University of Johannesburg. Grace Matlhape sits on several boards of commercial and Non-profit companies and is a fellow of the Leadership and Innovation Network for Collaboration in the Children’s sector in South Africa.
Nomabelu Mvambo-Dandala
Durban
Nomabelu Mvambo-Dandala is the Executive Director of the Diakonia Council of Churches, an ecumenical organisation based in Durban. She joined Diakonia in 1984 and over the years has served the organisation in varied capacities which have given her a deep understanding of the churches and the society which Diakonia seeks to serve. In September 2001, she became Deputy Director, Acting Director in August 2003, and was appointed Executive Director in July 2004. Her twenty two years of development experience with non-governmental organisations and community based organisations has enabled her to develop a deep rooted commitment to grassroots development, the growth and development of people. Through years of wide exposure, experience and training, Nomabelu is a person with strong grassroots connections. She joined the Ditikeni Board in 2006.
Marcella Naidoo
Cape Town
Marcella Naidoo is a human rights activist of long standing. She is qualified Social Worker (B Soc SC SW IV (UCT)) with over 30 years of management and leadership experience. Most recently she was the National Director of the Black Sash, a Human Rights NGO. Prior to that she held the position of Regional Director in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission SA. Her areas of expertise include social policy analysis, strategy development, organisation and financial management, and fundraising. She currently works as an organisational development consultant and serves on the Legal Services and Remsec Committees of the Board of Legal Aid South Africa. She also serves as a trustee on the Bishops Ditikeni Empowerment Trust.
Amber Olaleye
Johannesburg
Amber Olaleye holds a CIS that she obtained from Damelin Management School. Amber is currently the financial manager of Electoral Institute of South Africa after serving as the financial manager of CSVR for five years. Before that she worked as a senior bookkeeper for Ernst & Young and Safmarine, and as an auditor for Douglas & Velcich. Amber joined the Ditikeni Board in October 1999.
Wahida Parker
Cape Town
Wahida Parker is a lawyer and marketing strategist. She has had fourteen years’ experience as an executive board member and executive coach. Wahida has a law degree (B.Proc) from The University of Cape Town and is completing her MBA through the University of Edinburgh. She is an independent Trustee and Deputy Chair of Old Mutual Superfund, an independent chairperson for Verso Umbrella Fund, an independent Trustee of Woolworths Employee Share Trust and an independent chair of Old Mutual Orphan Funds. Wahida currently works for Grande Parade Investments (GPI) in Management and has previously worked for: Sun International Golden Valley Casino as General Manager; Equillore Ltd (formerly the Arbitration Forum) in Court Services – Dispute Resolutions, as their Chief Executive Officer; and at Work Dynamics as a Consultant.
Tumeka Ramuedzisi
Johannesburg
Tumeka joined the Ditikeni Board in January 2018. She is the Managing Director at Ramuedzisi Chartered Accountants & Registered Auditors. She holds a Bachelor of business Science, with Honours in Finance. Among the positions, she is an independent trustee of the National Lotteries Participants Trust.
Sahra Ryklief
Cape Town
Sahra Ryklief is the Secretary General of the International Federation of Worker’s Education Association (IFWEA), a position she has held since 2008. Ryklief is a former director of the Labour Research Service (LRS), a position she held for a decade, until 2007. She holds a master’s degree in political science from the University of Liverpool, and has worked as a labour educator, researcher and analyst for over two decades. She is an adjunct professor in the School of Management and Labour Relation at Rugters University, New Jersey, USA and a Southern African consultant for one of the major donor organisations for the labour movement in Africa – FNV-Mondiaal, Netherlands. Sahra joined the Ditikeni Board in October 1999.
Dr Sybil Seoka
Johannesburg
Dr Seoka holds a PhD in pharmacy from the University of Illinois, Chicago, where she served as a research assistant and later teaching assistant, became a Scientific Affairs Assistant at Scherag (1992), then joined Adcock-Ingram as a Business Development Analyst in 1994. She held several positions within Adcock-Ingram in the marketing division ultimately becoming the Corporate Liaison Manager, which exposed her to the government’s tender processes and individuals involved. Dr Seoka served on the Industry Task Group (ITG) which interacts with the National Department of Health, served as Chairperson of the SA Medical Devices Association, was an Executive of the National Association of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and was Trustee of the Adcock-Ingram Provident Fund Dr Seoka is currently an EXCO member of the Northern Gauteng Branch of the SA Association of Hospital Pharmacists, is serving on the National Executive Committee of the Pharmaceutical Society of South Africa and on the Health Charter Committee. Furthermore, she is currently on the Board of Trustees of the Church of the Province of Southern Africa (Anglican) Pension Fund and the Professional Provident Society (PPS) Retirement Annuity. She is a Non-Executive Director of PPS Limited (Limited by guarantee) and PPS Insurance Company. Dr Seoka is currently the CEO of a pharmaceutical/ medical distributor.
Olivia van Rooyen
Cape Town
Olivia van Rooyen has been the Executive Director of The Kuyasa Fund for the past ten years, pioneering micro finance for housing of the poorest communities in the Western Cape. She recently extended her B.Comm honours degree by obtaining an MBA from Stellenbosch University. She has been involved with various aspects of the non-profit micro finance industry, including training and project management with Development Action Group, Community Bank Foundation and Savings & Credit Co-operatives. Olivia started her career working for SACCAWU.
Nomfundo Walaza
Cape Town
Nomfundo Walaza was the Chief Executive Officer of the Desmond Tutu Peace Centre, holds a master’s degree in clinical psychology (University of Cape Town) and was until recently Executive Director of the Trauma Centre for Survivors of Violence and Torture, Cape Town. Nomfundo has commenced her doctor’s dissertation. She has been a visiting research scholar at the University of California Berkeley, and is on the Boards of the Desmond Tutu Peace Trust; International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims and Social Change Assistance Trust.
Allan Wentzel
Johannesburg
Allan Wentzel is a chartered accountant with a long business career, including five years as CEO of African Bank of which he was the founder. He is actively involved in numerous NGO and church organisations, including currently being Chairman of The Summit College Trust, Vice-Chairman of CDT Foundation NPC and a Director of Global Community Initiatives and Inanda Seminary, to name a few. He now practices as a consulting chartered accountant mainly to NGOs and disadvantaged South Africans. Allan joined the Ditikeni Board in October 1999.
Lungile Zondi
Johannesburg
Lungile is a labour relations consultant, mediator, arbitrator, facilitator and trainer, offering her skills to various industries and sectors. She chairs the National Exemption Committee for the Chemical Bargaining Council. She was a part time commissioner for the CCMA and conciliator for the Pension Fund Adjudicator’s Office. Lungile is currently a Trustee of the Anglo Platinum Employee Kotula Trust, SAB Zensele Employee Trust, Ponahalo De Beers Trust and the Chairperson of the Samancor Ndizani Worker’s Esop Trust. She is also a Non-Executive Director for Ponahalo Capital, Ponahalo Investments and Ponahalo Holdings. Lungile has experience as a part-time commissioner for the Metal Industry and Transnet Bargaining Councils. She holds a BA in Social Science (Fort Hare University) and a BA Social Honours from the University of Zululand. She has attained qualifications from both RAU (Advanced Labour Law) and Wits Business School (Management Advancement) respectively. She has extensive experience in Labour Relations as a consultant, specialising in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) for over 15 years and owns her own company.
Ditikeni Management
Gordon Young (Investment Advisor)
Cape Town
Mr Young has been a pioneer of empowerment ventures since 1992. He was a Co-Founder of the Community Growth Fund, the first BEE investment fund, and the listed African Harvest Group. He was Chief Executive of the listed Namibian Harvest Investments group from 2001 to 2004. He is currently investment advisor to Ditikeni in which capacity he has concluded numerous transactions. Mr Young was also principal advisor on the formation of Employee Share Ownership Schemes at AngloGold Ashanti, Anglo Platinum, and PUTCO.
Michael Hands (Company Secretary)
Cape Town
Mr Hands has an Honours in Bachelor of Accounting Science from UNISA, is a registered accounting officer, and has been running a successful financial consultancy practice for the past fifteen years, serving largely the development sector as well as small businesses. His extensive financial and administrative experience is founded on his completed articles and positions as Financial Manager at Young & Rubicam and at the Social Change Assistance Trust. He serves as a Non-Executive Director on the boards of, and is chairman of the audit committees for, African Pioneer (Pty) Ltd and Maitland FS Holdings (Pty) Ltd. He also serves as an audit committee member of Pioneer Fishing (Pty) Ltd.
CONTACT
Ditikeni’s Investment Advisor:
Gordon Young
Cell: 082 928 0028
E-mail: gordonyoung@ditikeni.co.za
Fax: 022 492 3749
Mail: PO Box 13511 Mowbray 7705