About Us
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
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Committed to a More Equitable Society
Our Vision
Our Mission
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
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
Professor Steven Friedman
Professor Marie Huchzermeyer
Ms Jackie Sejenamane
Ms Sejenamane is a local governance and spatial planning consultant.
Associate Professor Geci Karuri-Sebina
Associate Professor Karuri-Sebina is responsible for Digital Governance at the University of the Witwatersrand.
Mr Michael Kihato
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 sixteen employees, with seven staff members directly engaged in programme work and two staff members employed in administrative capacities. The organisation is hosting five 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
Tamzin Hudson
Operations Manager
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.
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
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 Honours degree in International Politics.
He has project management skills and more than 10 years of experience in community based work towards defending and promoting human rights.
Previously, Siphiwe worked as Project Officer at an organisation promoting freedom of expression. His primary focus was on coordinating a national grassroots Freedom of Expression Network concerning the right.
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 holds 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 from another institution.
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
Programme Coordinator
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
Assistant Programme Coordinator
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.
Thabani Nxumalo
SEF Project Manager
Thabani has over 10 years experience working as a paralegal with a special focus on community mobilisation and human rights advocacy. He is currently completing his LLB with the University of South Africa. Thabani is the Project Manager for the Social Employment fund.
Shaunita Jacobs
SEF Site Coordinator
Shaunita has 5 Years of administration experience from Nampak Glass. Shaunita holds a higher certificate in Business Administration. Shaunita was appointed to work as a Coordinator for the Social Employment Fund (SEF) Project.
Linda Zondi
SEF Site Coordinator
Linda has worked for 14 years in the airline industry as a travel agent and later as an HR assistant / Payroll officer for Air France/KLM. With her administrative experience, Linda was appointed to work on the Payroll for the Social Employment Fund (SEF) Project.
Zikhona Moloi
SEF Site Coordinator
Zikhona has volunteered for the City of Ekurhuleni under the community emergency response team. She holds a Diploma in IT Programming from Rosebank College and Civil Engineering and Building Studies vocational certificate from the Ekurhuleni West College. She has worked as a Civil Engineering intern and is currently an admin coordinator for the Social Employment Fund (SEF) Project.
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.
Kiara Britton
Intern
Kiara joined Planact in January 2024 on an Internship Programme.
Kiara has recently completed her Bachelor of Science and Honours Degree in Urban and Regional Planning at the University of the Witwatersrand. Her interests lie in the policy, urban governance, and urban design. Her interest in the internship programme includes gaining practical skills and exposure involving interactions and processes in project work with communities.
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
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
Shumani Luruli
Programme Coordinator
Siphiwe Segodi
Programme Coordinator
Chelesile Ndlovu-Nachamba
Information & Resource Coordinator
Wetu Memela
Programme Coordinator
Bafana Tshabalala
Assistant Programme Coordinator
Hlengiwe Mbambo
Assistant Programme Coordinator
Thabani Nxumalo
SEF Project Manager
Shaunita Jacobs
SEF Site Coordinator
Linda Zondi
SEF Site Coordinator
Zikhona Moloi
SEF Site Coordinator
Nonjabulo Magubane
Intern
Kiara Britton
Intern
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
Tshidi Morotolo
Office Administrator
Current Donors
International Network Partners
Local Network Partners
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