WE HARNESS THE POWER OF COLLABORATION AND ACTIVE CITIZENRY TO CO-CREATE THRIVING COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL ECONOMIES.
Ranyaka Community Transformation is an urban planning non-profit company and development agency. Since 2013, we’ve used a collaborative framework to guide this journey. This framework is called THRIVE.
THRIVE was born from the conviction that we need a different approach: one that puts people, place, and collaborative partnerships at the centre of transformation.
We are currently (2025) working in 38 communities in 15 towns in 8 provinces across South Africa – implementing, amongst other programmes, the Nedbank Proud of my Town initiative.
WE WORK WITH
PLACES
Our approach is place-based and systemic. People-centered spatial planning and multi-sectoral integration are key to community well-being. Our objective is to create healthy eco-systems that lay a foundation for optimal development.
A TRANSFORMED PLACE HAS THE POWER TO TRANSFORM LIVES.
WE WORK WITH
PEOPLE
We work with local stakeholders, strengthening change agents, facilitating cross-sectoral collaboration and integrating citizen-led initiatives into the over-arching strategy for the area. Our objective is collective, as opposed to isolated impact.
THROUGH COLLABORATION, WE TACKLE WHAT IS WRONG AND UNLOCK WHAT IS STRONG.
WE WORK WITH
PIONEERING INVESTORS
We develop smarter ways of investing in societal transformation. Our objective is sustainability, real impact and maximum return on investment. Nedbank’s Proud of my Town initiative is a prime example of smart investment in action.
SMART INVESTMENT LOOKS BEYOND ISOLATED INTERVENTIONS.
From neglect to nurture
What does one get when you have a large-but-unloved piece of open land, next to a school with a proactive principal, a community that cares and partners with vision? A beautiful transformation that is already unfolding into one that holds the potential to enrich the...
Let’s workshop the future – Boitekong
Proud of my Town is spreading its wings! Today, we held the launch workshop in Boitekong, Rustenburg in the North-West Province. Community members and stakeholders shared their insights on the challenges, opportunities and resources in their area. This workshop is the...
Diamonds in the dust
Farming for the Future takes root in Klapmuts As the harsh impact of lockdown regulations continue to expose - and often exacerbate - the many disparities within our society, there are still diamonds to be found in the dust and dirt of the COVID crisis. One such...
Living every day to the end | the story of Thabs Dube
“After the accident I didn’t just lose my leg. I lost hope. It was a struggle just to go through one day. I had to solve depression by finding something that I loved.” – Thabo Dube Thabo Dube grew up with his grandparents in Soweto. When they passed away, he wanted...
Building Business in tough times
Recovery and Relief Programme for Community Entrepreneurs The Covid-19 pandemic has severely impacted the South African economy. Thousands of micro, survivalist and small enterprises are amongst those who currently find themselves in a dire position. In response to...
Showcasing entrepreneurs | Elani Plaatjies
Next in line in our series of showcasing some of the entrepreneurs who are participating in the Ranyaka Building Business programme, is Elani Plaatjies from The Food Triangle. Here is Elani's story. Picture a custard biscuit cup filled with a little mixed-berry...
Welcome to the team, Sithembiso!
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...
Showcasing entrepreneurs | Muain Arnolds
Over the next few weeks, in support of local businesses, we will be showcasing some of the entrepreneurs who are participating in Ranyaka's Building Business programme. First in line is Muain Arnolds, the entrepreneur behind Shuttle Master in Stellenbosch!Muain was...
Hello, Port Elizabeth!
Proud of my Town (PoMT) has spread its wings to the township of Zwide in Port Elizabeth and last week, we had the privilege of working with Ubuntu Pathways to help bring relief to vulnerable families in need. Thanks to the Nedbank Proud of My Town fund in Port...
COVID-19: Hope in a time of havoc
Image by Alfred Thorpe | Vuurtoring MediaThe year 2020 will undoubtedly go down in history as a year when a pandemic turned the world upside down - bringing disruption, despair and even devastation on a global scale. At the same time, the Proud of my Town team has...
Supporting the homeless in Tshwane
The Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown affects every single South African and the most vulnerable members of our society are undoubtedly the hardest hit. As part of Nedbank's Proud of my Town programme, we had the privilege today to support two shelters in the City of...
Community in a new light
Community. It has become such a loaded term in our society. And the textbook answer would be that a community is a group of people who find themselves living within the same geographical area. That’s it. Plain, clear and very simply defined. Is it really just that? I...
ABOUT US
In 1996, two young town planners from very different backgrounds reported for duty at a local municipality in Gauteng. Only two years had passed since the dawn of democracy in South Africa.
WHAT WE DO
Ranyaka works hand-in-hand with communities, local stakeholders, all levels of government and investors to develop and implement transformation strategies for towns and communities.
WHERE WE WORK
By mid-2020, Ranyaka will be working in 13 towns and neighbourhoods in 9 towns across seven provinces throughout South Africa. We focus mainly, but not exclusively, on under-resourced communities.