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.
Every day a highlight
The salon space at the CoCreate Hub in Stellenbosch is warm and welcoming as I sit down to chat to Phelisa Bekwa of Phel’s Hair and Beauty. Hailing from King Williams Town in the Eastern Cape, Phelisa has called Kayamandi, Stellenbosch home for the past 10 years....
Traditional flavour with a Thabo twist
When you sit down to talk to Thabo “Thabs” Bekwa about his business, Indalo Street Food, you know straight away that this a man who is excited about the food industry. We sat down to chat at the Stellenbosch CoCreate Hub, where Thabo is preparing and serving his...
Growing the future
When two minds think alike, great things happen. Mlondolozi “Mlo” Mnxeba and Simlindile “Simli” Patekile are two such minds, and their business, Inveli Farms (formerly S and M Eco Farming) was born out of such an alignment. Inveli Farms is a small enterprise that...
A vision of growth
When you talk to Basil Williams, it is immediately apparent that he is a man who knows his stuff. The owner of Herbal View Hydroponics has over 21 years of experience in horticulture and agriculture and prides himself on his range of naturally grown and organic herbs...
Homebaked goodness in the heart of Stellenbosch
By the time pastry chef Nabeelah Cassiem, was eight years old, she had a dream – to own a coffee shop and deli. Nabeelah’s vision saw her baking creamy and decadent cakes and ‘fancies’ which would be on offer alongside her mom’s delicious savoury pastries. The owner...
Road to success
Obtaining your learner’s certificate and then your driver’s licence is probably one of the most important and exciting moments in any person’s life. For many Stellenbosch residents, waiting at the other end of this achievement is Niklaas Willemse (49), the owner of...
Through Lindsay’s lens
The calm air that surrounds photographer, Lindsay Petersen, is almost tangible. One gets the distinct impression that here is someone who takes the time to connect deeply with others. Someone who pays attention – whether it be to the positioning of a painting on a...
Together, Beke le Beke – rebuilding South Africa
We are living in tumultuous times. The COVID19 pandemic has disrupted the day-to-day lives of many South Africans, resulting in unprecedented job losses and business closures. In addition, the recent unrest that erupted across the country destroyed businesses and...
A special blend of joy
Adding a little bit of joy into every glass of wine is what Putsuezyna “Putsue” Mdluli describes as the drive behind her passion for winemaking. She began with only a vague knowledge of winemaking before progressing to the point of being skilled enough to create her...
Walls that talk – the story of Ateljee Will Hammers
While Will Hammers may appear to be a “man of few words”, sitting in the newly renovated CoCreate Hub in Victoria Street, Stellenbosch, it is apparent that Will’s work does a lot of the talking for him. The warm exposed brick walls of the historic building provide a...
Nedbank Greenbacks supports rebuilding of small businesses
The recent looting of malls in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng has threatened the survival of hundreds of small businesses. In response to this crisis, Ranyaka is currently implementing a small business relief and recovery intervention under the banner of the Nedbank Proud...
Come for a haircut, leave with tranquillity
Neatly tucked away in Jamestown, the red interior walls and warm welcoming atmosphere are tell-tale signs as to why this barbershop stands out. Zane Fransman, owner of Fransman Barbershop, has worked in both retail and corporate environments, from clothing stores to...
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.