Our Team

Founded by Mandisa Monakali, in 1989, at its inception, Ilitha Labantu was the only organisation in the Western Cape that served to empower women in townships and to address issues related to domestic violence, political violence and the abuse of women and children’s rights. With its head office in Gugulethu, Cape Town, Ilitha Labantu has grown from being an organisation run by a few committed women to establishing satellite offices in five provinces in both township and rural areas and is committed to increasing the scope of its work throughout the country.

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Our Founder

Mandisa Monakali is the founder and president of Ilitha Labantu. A survivor of gender-based violence herself, Monakali formed the non-profit in 1989 after realising the impact of domestic abuse on the development of women and children in township and rural communities.

For over 40 years, Monakali has dedicated her life to advocating for the rights of women and children, personally seeking justice for victims and survivors of abuse. Her fight to end domestic violence and to empower women, has been recognised nationally and internationally.

In 1995, Monakali, alongside over 200 women from South Africa, played a significant role in the adoption of the Beijing Declaration Platform for Action – ensuring that civil society was adequately represented. Monkali continues to be a beacon of hope and determination has the world strives to meet the sustainable development goal of achieving gender equality by 2030.

Our Chairperson

Nkhabele Marumo is a Clinical Psychologist with over 18 years in private practice. She has gained experience in policy development, management with specific focus on labour market, gender, and youth and people with disability and employment and assessment related services both at policy and implementation levels. She was a member of the National Skills Authority (NSA) - an advisory body to the Minister of Labour - on skills and employment related issues, and an advisory member of the People Assessment Initiative (PAI) which comprises of Human Resources Specialists and Psychologists from companies such as SA Breweries, Southern Sun and Anglo Platinum.

She has extensive experience in policy audits for example, Equity and Gender, Retrenchment Implementation and Benchmark Studies. Her current focus is in human capital development strategies, including talent management and assessments and Employee Wellness and she is a certified trainer for the Culture in the Workplace Questionnaire (CWQ3).

Her passion and focus remains in trauma counselling, prevention of violence against women and children and supporting non-governmental organisations working in these areas.

She is a shareholder of Pinpoint One Human Resources and a trustee of Siyeluleka Trust. She is also one of the three founding board members of the Southern African Partners - SA.

Our Board Members

Nkhabele Marumo - Chairperson

Rev Otto Ntshanyana - Deputy Chairperson

Joy van der Heyde - Board Member

Mugied Dien Sedick - Treasurer

Andrew Madella - Board Member

Rev Vuyani Buwe - Board Member

Thobekile Ngubeni - Board Member

Adv Kagiso Maphalle - Board Member

Jessica Longwe - Board Member

Dr Thozama April-Maduma - Board Member

Mam Zodwa Moya - Patron

Mandisa Monakali - Ex-officio Board Member