WE CO-CREATE STRONGER PLACES AND THRIVING ECONOMIES.
Ranyaka is a South African non-profit organisation and professional Place-Based Practice working with communities, businesses, municipalities, funders and other partners to strengthen the places where people live, learn, work and do business.
Developed over more than a decade of on-the-ground practice, our THRIVE Framework grew from the conviction that lasting transformation requires a different approach: one that puts people, place and collaborative partnerships at the centre. The four pillars of THRIVE, Clubs, Hubs, Networks and a shared Platform, are some of the key mechanisms through which the framework takes shape in practice.
We bring people, knowledge, investment and practical solutions together to strengthen the economic, social and environmental conditions that help places become more productive, resilient and regenerative.
By the end of 2025, our work had reached 38 communities across 15 towns in 8 provinces in South Africa. This includes our role as national implementation agent for the Nedbank-funded Proud of My Town programme.
WE WORK WITH
PLACES
The place is our starting point.
No two places are the same. Every community has its own relationships, assets, businesses, institutions, challenges and opportunities.
We start by understanding the place – bringing together different disciplines, partners and resources around one shared purpose:
HELPING A PLACE FUNCTION BETTER,
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 which is a prime example of Ranyaka’s place-based framework and smart investment in action.
SMART INVESTMENT LOOKS BEYOND ISOLATED INTERVENTIONS.
From listening to lasting change: inside Ranyaka’s co-creation model
Listening is where every one of our journeys at Ranyaka begins. Sometimes it’s a cup of coffee with a community leader. Sometimes it’s a room filled with people, colourful Koki pens, maps and ideas. Both moments matter. Because trust is built in conversation. And...
Thrive: How communities rebuild together
Building thriving communities and strengthening local economies has always been at the heart of Ranyaka’s work. 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...
Mangaung: Breathing new life into Bloemfontein’s inner city
Since its launch on 14 November 2024, the St George’s Precinct Plan in Mangaung has blossomed into a bold, city-wide vision: the Bloemfontein CBD Regeneration Programme. What began as a focused effort to refresh a single precinct has inspired something much bigger,...
Rooted in purpose: Who we work with and why
In the complex landscape of community development, where challenges are many and solutions rarely simple, Ranyaka remains steadfast in our purpose. We are here to do the work. It is often complicated, emotional, and nuanced. But it is vital. Clear and consistent...
Thriving starts here: When women say yes to themselves
The power of showing upThere is something deeply powerful about a group of women gathering, not just to talk, but to walk, reflect, laugh, dream, and heal together. That’s exactly what has unfolded over the past few months in Paarl at the Mountain Ridge Estate, where...
Klapmuts – a journey of partnership, progress and possibility
A small gathering at a school library in early 2016 marked the beginning of Ranyaka's journey in the community of Klapmuts. Fifteen residents and stakeholders met to discuss a shared vision for the area, laying the groundwork for future planning and development. This...
Strengthening local heroes for lasting impact
In every community across South Africa, passionate individuals and organisations are driving meaningful change. We journey with these local heroes every day – and as a non-profit organisation working side-by-side with our implementation partners, we understand the...
Darling: A journey of trust and transformation
Darling, in the Western Cape, has set a bold vision: to become the country’s first green, resilient, and inclusive town. Getting there will require a foundation of trust, strategic partnerships, and strong community engagement.
Paintball with a purpose: The Ghost Paintball story
What began as a non-profit initiative to give survivors of gender-based violence a functional way to release their stress and anger has evolved into a thriving paintball business for Martin Mokapala, founder of Ghost Paintball in Mamelodi. From humble beginnings as a...
Reaching for the Stars: How Pixel Art Studio captures the essence of Africa
Once dreaming of soaring through the skies as an aviation professional, Nhlanhla Mkhwabane has found a different way to fly high — through the lens of his camera. Today, his photography and design business, Pixel Art Studio, is reaching for new heights. Pixel Art...
Crafting keys, building dreams: The story of Sbevu Trading
When you visit Mams Mall in Mamelodi township, Tshwane, you are likely to come across Sbevu Locksmith and Projects (registered as Sbevu Trading), a local business that has been serving the community since it opened its doors in 2020. Bheki Innocent Simelane, the man...
Empowering local brands to shine on a global stage: The Gabriel Projects journey
In the city of Rustenburg in North West province, a young creative agency is making a name for itself in the branding and design industry. Gabriel Projects, founded by Karabo Gabriel Mulaudzi, is on a mission to empower local brands to shine on the global stage.Karabo...
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.