MEET THE TEAM

MIGNON HARDIE

MANAGING DIRECTOR

Mignon loves learning, experimenting and innovating in the social impact space. She is passionate about finding ways to help grow a more equitable, just and tolerant society. Mignon is compassionate, collaborative and democratic, and wants to ensure that all people have the opportunity to grow and reach their potential.

RYAN GEEL

CAMPUS DIRECTOR

Ryan is a communicator and he approaches everything he touches in a thorough and passionate way. He is dependable and has sound judgement with a practical and logical approach to all of his endeavors in life. Ryan has a natural shining outlook to everything in life.

ZANDILE MQWATHI

COMMUNITY PROGRAMMES DIRECTOR

Zandile is a passionate and optimistic leader, holding an MA in Drama Therapy, with over 16 years of experience in public health and social development. She combines strategic thinking, arts-based approaches, and community innovation to support young people, shift behaviour, and strengthen resilience. Zandile is deeply committed to equity, healing, and African-led solutions, bringing warmth, empathy, creativity, and collaboration to everything she does. In her free time, she enjoys reading African fiction, caring for her plants, creating safe spaces, and visiting the library with her two girls (Khwezi and Malaika).

INNOCENT MASAYIRA

Head of Fundraising

Inno is an unfinished symphony. One distinctive characteristic of Innocent is that he is always in action. His mind is always wondering and his body is always in motion. Inno is daring, he has an interesting outlook to life, he questions and is not afraid to be questioned. For him, the sky is the limit.

SAARAH YASSIEM-AZIZ

HR CONSULTANT

Saarah loves the diversity of working with different kinds of people. She strives to assist at least one person every day, helping them with their needs. She believes that knowledge should be shared generously. Saarah’s downtime finds her reading, experimenting in the kitchen, hiking with her family taking in all the little things nature has to offer. She values the lessons of forgiveness she experiences from her young daughter.

IAN FIFE

Finance Officer

Ian embraces life through his friendly demeanour, taking stress in his stride. Through his own experience, a key purpose of Ian’s is to educate men about breast and prostate cancer, helping them to openly speak about their experiences. At home, Ian is happiest in the kitchen. He also loves gardening and spending time with his grandson.

LAAIQAH BROWN

HEALTH4LIFE CO-ORDINATOR

Laaiqah is an independent person with a strong work ethic. She loves what she is doing and she is always on the lookout for the next person to help. She is honest and unapologetic about it! She enjoys music and food, but most of all spending time with her children.

ANWAR ARICUM

HEALTH4LIFE COUNSELLOR

Anwar’s daily greeting is ‘honey I’m home’ as he welcomes everyone with his happy and warm smile. He loves the universe, which he believes doesn’t give what you ask for with your thoughts, but rather gives you what you demand with your actions. He believes that your destiny is bound with the destinies of others. His motto is “live for today”.

DENECIA BUYS

HEALTH4LIFE COUNSELLOR

Denecia is someone who loves wholeheartedly. She believes in honesty and integrity. Her craziness is what adds to the world in a very positive way. She is driven by teaching, motivating others and being surrounded by young people.

FELICIA JANTJIES

HEALTH4LIFE COUNSELLOR

Felicia is a woman of few words but is a great listener. Her caring personality and keen sense of humour is one of her many qualitites. She always radiates warmth and understanding in everything she does.

NKOSANA MKHIZE

HEALTH4LIFE COUNSELLOR

Nkosana, originally from Soweto, is a type of person that likes simplicity. He is humble, full of enthusiasm and humour. He draws his inspiration from God’s unconditional love and he believes that life is precious.

SINDISWA TITI

HEALTH4LIFE COUNSELLOR

Sindiswa describes herself as shy, but talkative, once she warms up to people. With a background in community work, Sindiswa loves working with small children. Not an overly sensitive person, she believes that one can always learn new things about yourself if you are open to positive feedback from others.

Lilitha Madikizela

Family Affairs and Wellness Manager

Lilitha is passionate about Social Work and often jumps into “Social Worker mode” even outside of work hours. After hours, you can find Lilitha hiking and camping in nature or doing sporty activities that sometimes lead to questions like “Why did I sign up for this!?” and “Why am I paying to do this!?“. Like all energizer bunnies, Lilitha takes recharge time very seriously and loves sleeping and eating.

NAJMA FAKIER

Registered Counsellor

Najma is fun-loving, funny and caring. She says she has a wicked sense of humour and is able to laugh at her own jokes. Najma is passionate about people and believes that everyone deserves a second chance. She is rewarded by seeing people overcome their obstacles. To relax, she loves reading and watching horror movies.

SARAH DOWLING

Registered Counsellor

Fairness, inclusivity and transparency are Sarah’s guiding principles in life. With a systems perspective on life, she believes that for the whole system to work effectively, all parts need to work in harmony. Using her analytical mind, she enjoys working toward creating optimal outcomes. Sarah works on being aware of her wholeness and is excited about being a catalyst to support adolescents to discover their undiscovered value. To relax, Sarah loves being in nature, exploring new places, connecting with family and friends, baking, and curling up with a good book or series.

Aqeelah Munsamy

Social Worker

Aqeelah is all about spreading good energy and making a difference! She gets a kick out of working with young people and watching them grow and reach their goals. She thrives on the thrill of meeting new people, swapping stories, and creating those “remember that time” moments.

Sinesipho Veli

SOCIAL WORKER

Sinesipho is a Leaders’ Quest beneficiary. Her interest in the well-being of people led to her study Social Work at Nelson Mandela University. As an intern on the Leaders’ Quest programme, she intends to make a positive impact on the people she works with.
To relax, Sinesipho surrounds herself with people who radiate positive energy, love, kindness and laughter. She prides herself in altruism and an empathetic spirit.

CHANTE ROSS

Family Affairs Facilitator

Chante describes herself as a caring, humorous and creative person. Her natural instinct is to help others in any way possible. This has fuelled her passion for becoming a social worker. She is drawn to improving family dynamics and playing an active role in making a positive impact in the lives of those she serves. In her free time, she enjoys watching true crime or horror movies. She loves to laugh and believes it’s the best medicine. Additionally, she enjoys taking on various art projects as a way to unwind and express her creativity.

NCUMISA GWEBITYALA

FAMILY AFFAIRS FACILITATOR

Ncumisa is a shy but talkative person once she gets to know people… She believes in the saying “history mustn’t repeat itself”. She doesn’t want to see young people making the same mistakes I did. Ncumisa is fully invested in her work, pouring her time, energy, and resources into it. She understands the significance of her tasks and is determined to see them through to completion, no matter what obstacles she faces. She believes that working hard gives one a sense of achievement, fulfilment, self satisfaction and it helps one to stay positive and confident.

MARLENE WILSON

Life coach

Marlene’s caring spirit and expert listening ability mixed with no frills straight talk, heaps of pizazz and a wicked sense of humor has created a reputation that we all love. When you have the privilege of meeting up with Marlene, you are going to learn all about “The Finger” – what it does and where it belongs!.

MIHLALI NDLAZI

Family Affairs Facilitator

Mihlali is an easy-going, fun-loving person who is passionate about community development. She believes in pouring her heart into everything she does and, of course, having something to laugh about at the end of the day. She lives by the phrase from Paulo Coelho’s book, Warrior of Light, that you should always carry three things with you. These are: FAITH, HOPE & LOVE.

Zukile Keswa

Leaders’ Quest programme manager

Zukile holds a BCom degree in Information Systems and has completed a project management course. He says he is calm and collected and is proud of his ability to preserve and overcome any challenges as they come up.
Zukile is a family orientated man enjoying quality time with his family. To relax he listens to music, and enjoys watching sport.

QUEEN GUM

LEADERS’ QUEST CO-ORDINATOR

Queen is a LOL kind of girl. She laughs at the most serious matters, she does this to let herself and everyone know that everything is going to be alright! She believes that everything happens for a reason. You can lock her up with a “Chinese” and she will still find a way to understand the person because she believes in the human race and the power of love.

APHELELE EMMETE

Leaders’ Quest coach

Aphelele believes that hard work pays off to those who remain consistent. He finds motivation though his life and through other people who have had to dig deep to find opportunities. He is a passionate young man who loves teaching business studies and economics to Gr11 and Gr12 learners in his free time. When not working he relaxes by watching documentaries which inform and educate him.

Luzuko Mabhongo

Leaders’ Quest coach

Luzuko is a trained facilitator, who finds joy in assisting those around him. His motivation stems from his ability to positively impact the lives of young people. He hopes to witness them making wise and significant judgments and to see positive changes in their lives. He believes in the value of lifelong learning and loves working in a diverse environment where he can continue to grow and be an active member of a vibrant team.

Yamkela Nkinqa

Leaders’ Quest COACH

Yamkela is a Leaders’ Quest beneficiary who has joined the Life Choices team as a programme coach to Grade 10’s. She describes herself as a loud and loving person who is passionate and focused in everything she does. She finds that working with young people brings out the best in her. Yamkela wishes to be the ‘hero’ for youth, realising how much it would have benefited her, had she had her own hero growing up. She is a mother to a beautiful 7 year old boy, is the founder of a ladies football team and coaches the boys’ football divisions.

Zinzi Nogavu

Leaders’ Quest COACH

Zinzi is a compassionate and proactive leadership and personal development coach and facilitator who has years of experience in working with youth in educational programs. She loves guiding young people from different backgrounds and helping them overcome obstacles so that they can achieve their goals and unlock their potential. She connects with youth, leading them to focus on developing their personal habits and abilities. Zinzi is also a performing artist who has extended her horizons to become a committed After School Practitioner, passionate about community development and social cohesion.

TAMIA DE LILLY

Youth worker

Tamia is a Leaders’ Quest beneficiary who holds a BSocSc in Sociology and English Literature. She is passionate about research and helping those in need. She is a naturally calm and quiet individual who enjoys engaging with people. She challenges herself by doing tasks that initially scare her and take her out of her comfort zone. Tamia is a major bookworm, who loves reading and writing. In her free time she delves deeper into researching areas that she is interested in – such as ancient history. She is a bit of a ‘did you know’ type of person, as she likes talking about the new things that she learns each day.

ONWABO MKENKU

Youth worker intern

I am a former Life Choices beneficiary, who loves working with people and helping them grow. I am now facilitating youth programmes at Life Choices. I’ve always been passionate about empowering others to learn, stay motivated, and reach their full potential.

FRANZISKA MAURER

YOUTH VOLUNTEER

I’m excited to spend a full year in Cape Town with Life Choices. I enjoy every conversation with my colleagues and contributing to the team’s work, because this year here is a huge opportunity for me to thrive. In my free time, I love exploring the city and nature, playing volleyball, or just relaxing with a good book.

YIBANAM MBAWULI

Youth worker intern

Yibanam is a former Leaders’ Quest beneficiary, who joined Life Choices to assist with field work in schools and with young people. He comes from the township of Samora Machel. He is a resilient, optimistic, bubbly and friendly person. He’s also a performing artist. He’s fascinated by humans and nature, and aspires to become a doctor. He believes in God and he also believes that he’s the next BIG thing yet to come.

DARRON GELDERBLOEM

LIFE CHOICES ACADEMY TECHNICAL DELIVERY MANAGER

Darron has broad industry experience, but the common thread has always been optimisation. He is inquisitive and creative at heart, but logical and practical in execution. During his spare time he enjoys arranging and composing. His mantra is that of Walt Disney… “Keep moving forward”

Matthew Brown

YOUTHCODE LECTURER

Matthew is a competitive individual who has a passion for teaching and achieving his dream. His goal is to have a positive impact on people and his environment. He also enjoys problem-solving and assisting people to reach their full potential. Matthew’s competitive side shows when challenging opponents in gaming!

KHANYISO HAMAN

YOUTHCODE LECTURER

Khanyiso is a passionate lecturer in computer programming and web development, skilled in PHP, Python, JavaScript, Vue.js, HTML, CSS, and database management. He blends theory with practical, hands-on learning to prepare students for real-world challenges. His teaching emphasizes problem-solving, teamwork, and innovation to help learners thrive in the evolving tech industry.

TYHIESHA JOHNSON

YOUTHCODE LECTURER

I’m Tyhiesha Johnson, a creative and technical professional with experience in digital marketing, web development, software testing, and cybersecurity. I value consistency and pride myself on being an independent thinker, always looking for fresh ways to solve problems and make an impact. At the heart of everything I do is a passion for helping others, sharing kindness, and growing, both personally and professionally. And one of my favourite mottos comes from The Mandalorian: “This is the way.”

NASHVILLE JAMES

WEB OPERATIONS & LEARNING LEAD

Nashville is a beneficiary of the Life Choices Academy and is now the Web Operations & Learning Lead at LC Studio. He is excited to share his skills and expertise with the next generation of interns in the web development team. Nash is a hard worker, committed to his line of work, and open to the possibilities emerging in the coding world. He’s always up for a challenge and ready to seek solutions to problems. In addition to his love for the world of IT, Nash finds joy in DJing and producing music.

SIBABALWE MAFESTIRE

YouthForce Technical Lead

Sibabalwe Mafestire is passionate about empowering young people through education. As a facilitator for the Life Choice Academy YouthForce project, she guides a group of 23 students in mastering Salesforce, helping them build valuable skills for their future careers. Sibabalwe finds great joy in watching her students grow and succeed. Outside of work, she enjoys reading books like “The Fall of Giants” and enjoys watching anime.

VERONIQUE NAPPIE

YouthForce Technical Lead

Veronique describes herself as someone who is curious about life and learning. She is a facilitator in Life Choices’ Youth Force project, which aims to equip a group of 23 individuals with Salesforce industry skills and certification. Excited to see their journey unfold, she hopes to impart her sense of curiosity and enthusiasm to everyone she comes into contact with. Her daily mantra by Albus Dumbledore is, “Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light”. This reminds her that one can always find a reason to be happy, even when things don’t go according to plan.

CANDICE AMON

PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

Candice is an independent individual who is willing unravel potential in each every person she encounters in her life. Candice is very outspoken and draws strength from her achievements in life. She believes to GROW means to CHANGE, if you haven’t been challenged you haven’t GROWN.Enjoys seeing friends and family happy around her.

MAXINE OLIVER

IMPACT PATHWAYS ADMINISTRATION MANAGER

Maxine Oliver is an organised and determined individual investing in personal growth and development. She enjoys reading and expanding her knowledge, as well as inspiring others to reach their potential. Often described as dynamite in a small package she believes that to get anywhere in life, standing still is not an option.

She loves networking and, to relax, Max enjoys time on her own, walking on the beach, quality time with her family and pets as well as taking drives whilst listening to good music.

THULISILE ZWELONKE

STUDENT SUPPORT OFFICER

I believe in loyalty, honesty and respect, and I know being faithful in small things counts in my life and others. I care about other people’s feelings. I am both an introvert and extrovert depending on the environment I’m in.

Keziah Petersen

STUDENT SUPPORT OFFICER

Keziah is a Leaders’ Quest beneficiary who has joined Life Choices as an Intern in Operations. During her journey on Leaders’ Quest, she discovered her voice for public speaking. She loves meeting people from all walks of life and extending her friendship circle. She is using her growth from Leaders’ Quest to help develop others.
She has 3 dogs which she loves to play with and relax with.

IVIWE MADLINKOMO

IMPACT PATHWAYS INTERN

Enthusiastic about exploring diverse and intellectually challenging tasks, with a constant drive to learn and grow through new experiences. Often found working on fresh ideas or getting lost in the pages of a thought-provoking book. When not shy, brings a sharp sense of humour, creativity, and positive energy to any team or space

STHEMBILE CHILIZA

HR INTERN

I am a dedicated and people-focused individual who values teamwork, learning and growth. I enjoy helping others reach their potential and take pride in being organised and reliable. I enjoy reading and exploring new ideas that inspire personal and professional growth

Vuyo Ntlangu

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

Vuyo is passionate about sustainable development, social justice, good governance, youth empowerment and access of marginalised communities to affordable and clean energy. His motto is ‘nothing is impossible to a willing heart’. Vuyo enjoys road trips, camping, playing cricket and bringing hope/positive change to the lives of people.

MELANIE STEVENS

PLACEMENT OFFICER

Melanie enjoys family time, especially cheering for her son at his extra-mural activities. She’s passionate about her work and finds satisfaction in seeing people developing to their full potential. Her motto in life, “try to be a better version of yourself as you were yesterday”.

LIKHONA DUBASE

PLACEMENT INTERN

I am empathetic, organised and energised by helping students discover meaningful career opportunities. I am a reliable, friendly and motivated individual who is always eager to connect students with the right opportunities. In my free time I enjoy reading, socialising with family and friends, attending events and hiking.

NONTSIKELELO NDZIBA

PLACEMENT AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT INTERN

I am a person who is very observant with the work I do. Being part of the Business Development team has helped me apply all the skills and knowledge I’ve obtained during my studies in Retail Business Management. I love being indoors reading, listening to music as well as analysing lyrics.

JOYCE UMETOR

M&E MANAGER

Joyce Umetor has a postgraduate degree in M&E from Stellenbosch University and is originally from Nigeria. She is a budding evaluator and a key part of our M&E team. Music and cooking are her other passions and she says ‘you will always find me in the kitchen cooking traditional African dishes listening to my favorite music, Gospel.’

Abongile Tywala

M&E Assistant

Abongile is a Leaders’ Quest beneficiary who comes from the township of Gugulethu. She is fascinated by numbers and anything that has to do with problem solving and is aspiring to become an accountant.
Abongile is bubbly in nature and loves making people smile. Being a believer in the word of God, her favourite scripture is Proverbs 16:9. To relax she spends time listening to songs of worship.

SHAUN JEFTHA

M&E ASSISTANT

Shaun is someone who is excited about learning new things and is always open to learning. He is an introverted young man who enjoys getting lost in a good ‘who dunnit’ book or a good sci-fi or musical movie. He is a hard worker who enjoys helping people to achieve their goals. When not lost in a book, he enjoys eating out with his friends and exploring new places.

TARA SNELL

M&E ASSISTANT

Tara is a Life Choices Academy and LC Studio graduate who has gained knowledge in the ICT industry. She loves singing and is always in a bubbly mood. She’s an outgoing, outspoken person who loves solving any issue at hand. Currently, she is working in the M&E Department capturing data, performing quality control on the data and adding value in whatever way she can.

OWAMI LERUMO

RESEARCH INTERN

I’m currently pursuing a MPhil in Southern Urbanism: Urban Studies Specialisation at the University of Cape Town (UCT). I’m passionate about understanding urban environments and how they shape our communities. Through my work here, I’m excited to contribute research that supports sustainable and inclusive urban development. In my free time, I enjoy café hopping, reading urban history, and connecting with nature through walks, beach visits, and hiking.

TARRAN HUMAN

OPERATIONS MANAGER

Tarran describes herself as a soft-hearted perfectionist who lives off the principles of faith, hope and love. A firm believer in all things positive, Tarran accepts as true that a positive mind leads to a positive life. She believes that we are in control of our own destiny as we write our own story.

LEIGH OKTOBER

Office Administrator

Leigh has a bright and bubbly personality, independent, nurturing, and supportive in personal relationships. She is a Life Choices beneficiary who always strive to have a positive impact on other people. When not working she’s behind her sewing machine, taking pictures or listening to motivational speeches.

SHARLEEN HENDRICKS

M&E Assistant and Office Administrator

Sharleen shows up as an authentic, honest and open woman. She believes we are all born with the same good in us, and so she looks for the best in everyone. Sharleen is hardworking and is not afraid to face life’s challenges. To de-stress she enjoys baking and reading offers her a quiet place for quiet time.

AMY MANEL

ADMINISTRATOR

Amy is fun to be around and has a bubbly personality – this is expressed especially when you get to know her. People are drawn to her because of her loving and caring nature, and her willingness to assist where she can. Her teachable spirit all bodes well for her success in the workplace. She has a Business Administration qualification and has also trained as an air hostess. However, she feels she’s found her niche in the NPO sector as she enjoys working at Life Choices.

ASIPHE MHLANA

ADMINISTRATOR

Asiphe Mhlana is Life Choices Campus Administration intern. She is an honest, loyal and reliable person. She can be talkative and is passionate about everything she does – including her work

Cheslyn Loph

IT TECHNICAL ASSISTANT

Cheslyn is an innovative and creative individual with a passion for IT. He describes himself as someone who’s eager for knowledge and always up for a challenge. He’s keen on helping others solve problems and implement solutions.
In his spare time, he enjoys learning about technology, watching movies, and playing video games.

Unathi Mbali

SOLAR TECHNICAL ASSISTANT

Unathi is an aspirant master electrician, solar PV installer and trainer. He holds an electrical engineering (heavy current) qualification and enjoys challenging himself and solving complex technical problems. On the technical side, Unathi has a sharp eye for detail, is practical and enjoys working with technologies, machines and tools. On the soft side, he is friendly, enjoys working with people and if he is not on his earphones you will find him bringing laughter to his friends. At Life Choices, he provides technical support to the solar team.

CHERNIQUE ABRAHAMS

IT AND OPS INTERN

A passion for learning and helping others. I enjoy tackling technical challenges, discovering new tools. Driven by technology, I love working with computer systems. In my free time, I enjoy cue sports like 8-ball pool, as well as reading and exploring new ideas that keep me inspired.

CHARL JAMES

MAINTENANCE OFFICER

Charl is an outgoing, happy man who is very family orientated. He feels his purpose is to care for his family, and strives to keep life light and fun at home. When not working, Charl enjoys the outdoors and hiking in nature. He is sport mad, and is especially crazy about soccer.

SADÉ HICKMAN

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Sadé is a multi-skilled creative with experience in various creative fields. Born in the (formerly) small town of Hermanus, she holds a Degree in Art Direction as well as a few awards – one of which is a prestigious Silver Loerie, won in her second year of university. She’s incredibly passionate about art, design and everything in between – dabbling in both digital and traditional mediums since childhood, she is constantly learning and expanding her skill set as the field does.