Xola has been instrumental in leading ongoing substantive change and institutional
transformation in Buffalo City through effective leadership and the provision of guidance to municipal officials. He has held numerous leadership roles in various fields.
Cllr. Xola Pakati
SACN Council Chairperson
Yolisa has extensive knowledge in the government sector and in public and transport policy, and has wide-ranging experience in integrated transport planning, managing stakeholders and planning and implementing complex and multi-disciplinary capital projects.
Yolisa Kani
SACN Board Chairperson
Ashraf has held senior positions at the South African Local Government Association, the Drakenstein Municipality, the Department of Public Works, the Municipal Demarcation Board, the South African Planning Institute and the Commonwealth Association of Planners.
Ashraf Adam
Board Member
At afesis-corplan, Nontando deals with matters of local governance and urban settlements, and previously worked with the Urban Services Group and the Academy of Science of South Africa. She has held numerous leadership roles.
Nontando Ngamlana
Board Member
Modjadji is well-versed in matters of development and planning, cooperative governance and traditional affairs and led the teams that finalised both the Integrated Urban Development Framework (IUDF) and the IUDF implementation.
Dr. Modjadji Malahlela
Board Member
Executive Committee
Sithole has been with South African Cities Network since 2002 and is arguably one of South Africa’s most knowledgeable people regarding the journey that our current system of local government has travelled, and particularly the evolution of our municipalities.
Sithole Mbanga
CEO: South African Cities Network (SACN)
Yolisa focuses on financial reporting and compliance, risk management, establishing guidelines for budget and forecast preparation, preparation of annual budgets and ensuring that South African Cities Network’s HR, IT infrastructure and legal needs are met.
Yolisa Dambuza
Executive Manager: Finance and Corporate Services
Managing integrated research and knowledge sharing in the built environment thematic areas of land, spatial planning, human settlements and transport. He previously managed the municipal finance research portfolio. He holds a masters degree in transport studies and a BSc in urban and regional planning and recently completed social entrepreneurship programme.
Geoffrey Bickford
Executive Manager: Programmes
Luncedo has extensive experience in local government, municipal entities and non-profit organisations and has expertise in organisational planning and strategy, corporate governance, communications, stakeholder engagement and partnerships.
Luncedo Njezula
Executive Manager: Governance and Communications
Programmes Team
Nomfundo focuses on strengthening urban economies, job creation and infrastructure investment through spatial transformation, expanding economic participation and improving local economic governance.
Nomfundo Faith Dlamini
Programme Manager: Productive Cities
Danga focuses on the management of municipal finances, the development of human capacity in the public sector and the participation of vulnerable communities in municipal governance.
Danga Mughogho
Programme Manager: Well-Governed Cities
Liteboho focuses on the acceleration of sustainability transitions in cities with emphasis of the institutional shifts and governance approaches required for climate resilience, water security, energy diversification and integrated waste management.
Liteboho Makhele
Programme Manager: Sustainable Cities
Sadhna coordinates programmes at South African Cities Network by providing support and she assists in the conceptualisation and implementation of all South African Cities Network programme activities.
Sadhna Bhana
Programmes Coordinator
Jonathan is an urban development professional with experience in planning, data and design and exchanges best practices and research pertaining to urban data and smart cities to South Africa’s largest cities and municipalities.
Jonathan Wilson
Urban Data Project Manager
Siphelele is a researcher in the Urban Safety Programme at South African Cities Network and has a special interest in the interface between urban informality and the world-class aspirations of post-colonial Africa.
Siphelele Ngobese
Researcher: Inclusion and Well-Being
Siphelelisiwe is a researcher in the Built Environment Programme at South African Cities Network. Her interest in the urban agenda lies in the ability for community voice to be activated to fundamentally drive co-created spaces.
Siphelelisiwe Ntombela
Researcher: Built Environment
Monique has a particular research interest in ethics-, justice- and rights-based approaches to urban development and is currently contributing to developing and delivering the State of Cities 2021 programme of work.
Monique Damons
Researcher: State of Cities (SOC)
Kayla works as a project manager at South African Cities Network, conducting research into the issues and dynamics affecting municipalities and their goals of achieving built environment integration.
Kayla Hanna Brown
Built Environment Project Manager
Tlholohelo works as a research intern in the Sustainable Cities Programme, providing research, stakeholder engagement and programme coordination support for the programme.
Tlholohelo Mokgere
Research Intern: Sustainable Cities
Kopano is an intern in the Productive Cities Programme. His research interests as they relate to development span the areas of urban access and informality, urban politics and governance, migration and gender studies, among others.
Kopano Ntsoane
Research Intern: Productive Cities
Finance & Corporate Services
Jean has worked predominantly in the accounting firm/auditing firm environment and joined South African Cities Network in April 2019.
Jean Chang
Accountant
A qualified CA with 9 years of experience and expertise in accounting and auditing ranging from compilation of financial statements to consolidations and corporate governance compliance.
Sophia Hajee
Financial Accountant
Makhosazane is the Office Manager at South African Cities Network, providing support to the Chief Executive Officer and Corporate Services.
Makhosazane Nxumalo
Office Manager
Clement’s passion is to provide easy-to-understand IT solutions that result in efficient systems and improve business productivity. He provides leadership and technical expertise across the entire technology spectrum.
Clement Mhlekwa
Consultant: IT Manager
Fleshia is the administration officer at South African Cities Network and has been with organisation for over a year.
Fleshia Mokwana
Administration Officer
Governance & Communications
With a background in digital communications and design, Shaun’s core focus is driving the internal and external communications of South African Cities Network across all digital platforms.
Shaun Watson
Communications
With over 10 years of experience in Consulting and Managerial roles in both the private and public sectors, Pelisa is responsible for managing strategic planning processes.
Pelisa Manqoyi
Senior Manager: Strategy, Governance and Reporting
Makungu Baloyi is responsible for the implementation of the IUDF communication strategic plan and stakeholder engagement.
Makungu baloyi
IUDF Communications
Lebogang is a Communications Specialist with Built Environment experience in the public and private sector. She is responsible for South African Cities Network’s marketing, communications and stakeholder relations.
Lebogang Lechuba
Marketing and Communications Specialist