We are excited to introduce a brand-new addition to the Ranyaka family! Sithembiso Malevu has joined the Ranyaka team as a Programme Manager and we are thrilled to have such a committed, motivated and skilled leader join our team.
Sithembiso (or S’the, as she is affectionately known) will be working closely with Ranyaka director, Maggie Tsotetsi, in our northern nodes – from Mamelodi-East in Tshwane, Boitekong in Rustenburg and Mankweng in Polokwane to Kanyamazane township in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga.
Motivated by her passion for building communities, Sithembiso completed her Diploma in Town and Regional Planning at the University of Johannesburg in 2009. Today, she is a qualified Development Planner with over six years’ experience spanning the Government and private sectors. Sithembiso has an in-depth understanding of, and insight into participatory planning, the Sustainable Livelihoods Approach and Asset Based Community Development. This, together with her excellent leadership, communication and facilitation skills, makes this dynamic planner a true asset to the Ranyaka team.
Looking beyond career qualifications and professional skills – and her CV speaks for itself – we’re most excited about the fact that Sithembiso shares our vision. Her heart is to work in communities, with communities, FOR communities. She is passionate about Early Childhood Development and developing young people.
In Sithembiso’s own words, “I usually say it takes one young star to change a family which has the potential to change the entire street or a village.” And she gets the bigger picture: How so many moving parts need to fall into place for a town, neighbourhood or community to go beyond surviving to thriving.
As a young girl growing up in Newcastle in KwaZulu-Natal, Sithembiso couldn’t have dreamt that life would lead her along this path. She remembers how, as a child, she put creativity and entrepreneurship to use by selling hand-made greeting cards and invitations.
Today, Sithembiso is extending an invitation of a different kind to a much broader audience. She is joining a team of like-minded South Africans who are inviting communities to join us on a journey to bring restoration and renewed hope to our neighbourhoods, our towns and our country.
Welcome to the team, Sithembiso. We are blessed to have you on board and we’re excited about our journey together going forward!
Image: Picture Perfect Studios – Centurion