About Us
The Siyakhula Sonke Trust (SKS) is based in Hillcrest, KwaZulu-Natal and was established in 2014. It is a community development outreach programme of the Methodist Church Clerpine Circuit. It operates in areas within a radius of 25kms around Pinetown, KwaZulu-Natal. The programme is totally non-sectarian and interdenominational. Its primary aim is to uplift severely impoverished communities in this region through economic empowerment initiatives. SKS is a registered non-profit organisation (NPO) and public benefit organisation (PBO) with Section 18A tax status.
The Call
The Methodist Church builds its community programmes on six pillars of mission. These incorporate every aspect of human life, including the economic well-being of all people irrespective of race or religion. There are few circumstances more debilitating to the human spirit than severe financial deprivation. As the Clerpine Circuit encompasses some of the poorest communities in the country, the Church called upon its staff and congregants to develop and implement the SKS economic empowerment outreach programme in the area.
The SKS programme strives to restore (God-given) dignity to those who have lost theirs, principally due to a lack of access to education, resources, and opportunity. This includes financial knowledge. Unfortunately, economic empowerment is one of the more difficult aspects to address in community development, especially amongst the poorest of the poor. This is a huge task, as the needs in the local communities in the Circuit are vast. In order to address these, SKS works in partnership with like-minded individuals and organisations, efficiently sharing skills and resources to ensure maximum reach and impact.
Beginnings
Between 2008 and 2014 the Church tried several approaches to address economic empowerment. These included communal gardening, small-scale farming and crafting through self-help groups. All of these early models succeeded to a degree but had drawbacks that did not fulfil the needs of the people the project was aiming to help. The main problems were access to funding for participants and longer term sustainability of the enterprises established.
In 2011, Rev Peter Crundwell was invited to visit a successful Economic Empowerment project in Eswatini. It was based on a different model to SKS’s, as it was able to draw on funding from its own investment company in order to make loans for small business projects. SKS learned that the three essential components for successful economic empowerment from this model were:
- Access to funds;
- Assessment of a business project’s viability; and
- Accountability for repayment of loans and continuance of the project.
A New Approach
From the Eswatini experience, it was realised that without access to even relatively modest funding and having the skills and confidence to manage money, the poor would struggle to form sustainable small businesses. Enterprises that would allow them to join the informal economy; become self-sufficient over time; improve their financial well-being; and begin to live more dignified lives. It was evident that there was a need to find a mechanism that enabled programme participants access to capital funds, financial and business skills.
Fortuitously, in 2014 after the decision to establish SKS as an entity dedicated to meaningful economic empowerment on a non-sectarian, interdenominational basis, we were introduced to SaveAct, a Pietermaritzburg based NGO. This organisation has an established model to develop sustainable savings or credit groups in poorer communities. At the time, it was assisting 2,200 groups involving about 50,000 members in several Southern African countries.
SaveAct was also working in KwaZulu-Natal where there was great demand for its services, and it was looking for like-minded partner organisations to help meet this demand. Consequently, an association was formed between the two organisations. The SaveAct model included three important stages:
- Establishing Savings or Credit groups;
- Providing Financial Education; and
- Enterprise Training.
These fitted perfectly SKS’s need for a method to make finance, in the form of reasonable loans, available to community members. As a result of this collaboration SKS was able to facilitate the establishment of 9 groups with 119 members in 2014. By 2018, the organisation had grown its staff to two Field Officers, two Community Workers and an Operations Co-ordinator to oversee and promote its programme. By December 2023, the SKS programme had created 162 actives savings groups with 2,811 members, 84% of whom were women.
It has taken time to perfect its model, but SKS has built an understanding of the development needs of the community and developed its capacity accordingly and believes it has reached a point where it is making a significant impact in the communities it serves. The growing demand for its support is indicative of the success of its model. The financial training modules and the enterprise development programme introduced in 2020 with partner funding are further strengthening the economic resilience of participants and we look forward to building on this foundation with other programmes such as bulk buying.
Founding Board of Trustees
Chairman: Duncan Pringle
Vice-Chair: Peter Crundwell
Operations: Tuki Maseatile
Secretary: Tuki Maseatile
Finance: Nichola Vorster
Marketing and Fundraising: Duncan Pringle
Circuit Superintendent: Rev Xolisani Silolo
Field Team
Operations Manager: Tuki Maseatile
Field Officer, Savings and Credit Groups:
Nomcebo Zaca
Field Officer, Enterprise Development:
Thulani Zondi
Community Based Promoters:
Ntombizethu Shezi (Mah Zethu)
Gladys Nyathikazi (Mah Gladys)
Thabi Shoba
Bongiwe Mkhize
Hloniphile Majozi
Thokozile Gumede
Ntombenhle Dlamini
Nompumelelo Masango
Amanda Madleliza
Field Team
Email Tuki:
operations@siyakhula-sonke.org.za
Tuki Maseatile
Operations Co-Ordinator
Tuki Maseatile was born and bred in Teyateyaneng (TY) in Lesotho in 1964. He lived in Johannesburg from 1994 to 2006, before moving to Hillcrest, Durban. He is married and has a daughter and a son. He passed the Cambridge Overseas School Certificate in 1982 and qualified with a Bachelor of Science Degree from the National University of Lesotho. Before joining Siyakhula Sonke Trust in May 2018, he ran his own private company that specialised in life coaching, performance and talent management.
Tuki’s experience in working with community development projects and Trusts spans over 20 years. In 1998 he left teaching and joined the community development section of the Sparrow Schools Trust in Johannesburg, to conduct surveys in schools in the Vaal Triangle. This led to his move to the Zenex Foundation in 2001, where he managed projects that were aimed at improving the quality of teaching and learning of Mathematics and Science, in both primary and high schools, in South Africa. He left the Zenex Foundation in 2006 and moved to Durban, to join the Valley Trust in the Valley of a Thousand Hills. Tuki left the Valley Trust in 2011 to start his own business.
Tuki is very passionate about working and interacting with other people to improve his life and theirs. He has a strong belief that each one of us has a potential to bring a change in our own lives, and those of our loved ones, and that with a bit of support and encouragement from others, we can do so. He is Operations Coordinator at Siyakhula Sonke Trust and hopes that he can enable the Trust to work smarter and better in growing the number of community members who participate in the Savings and Credit Groups, to transform their lives.
Nomcebo Zaca
Field Officer, Savings and Credit Groups
Thulani Zondi
Field Officer, Enterprise Development
Ntombizethu Shezi (Mah Zethu)
Community Based Promoter
Mah Zethu Shezi was born on 11 April 1957 in Maphephetheni in the Valley of a Thousand Hills. She is married and has five children. She has a Standard 7 Certificate and has studied as a Health Worker. Mah Zethu, as she is affectionately known at Siyakhula Sonke Trust, worked as a health worker for one and a half years and thereafter joined Diakonia Council of Churches in 2009 where she worked with Self-Help Groups as a Community Facilitator for four and a half years. She left Diakonia and joined Siyakhula Sonke Trust in 2013 when Siyakhula took over the Self-Help Groups and she is currently working as a Community Based Promoter.
Mah Zethu is very passionate about working with people and she teaches members of the community how to sew during her spare time. She would like to see the number of Savings and Credit Groups that are established and supported by Siyakhula Sonke Trust grow and the lives of the members of the groups change for the better.
Gladys Nyathikazi (Mah Gladys)
Community Based Promoter
Mah Gladys Nyathikazi was born in Molweni in KwaZulu Natal in 1949, where she is currently residing and passed her Forms 5 (equivalent of Matric) in 1963. She is formerly from the Mabhida family and is married and has 7 children, 8 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. She has worked at Highbury School and Doone Village Retirement Home, Pinetown.
Mah Gladys is a member of the Old Gogos soccer team from Molweni, who are part of the Gogo Olympics, that are held in Durban annually.She glows when she talks about the fun she and the ladies have, running around the soccer field chasing the soccer ball.
Mah Gladys works as a Community Based Promoter for Siyakhula Sonke Trust and says that she derives a lot of joy working with members of the community to teach them how to save money and improve their lives. When she is not working with the Savings and Credit Groups, she spends her time with ladies from her community, sewing and working in their communal garden.
Thabi Nobesuthu Shoba
Community Based Promoter
Nobesutho Patience Shoba was born on 28 November 1971 in Meadowlands in Gauteng. She is married and has five children. She completed Grade 10 in 1989. Thabi, as she is affectionately known at Siyakhula Sonke Trust, joined Siyakhula Sonke Trust in November 2018 as a Community Based Promoter. Thabi joined a savings and credit group in 2015. Thabi loves going to church and does sewing when she is not working. She would like to see members of Savings and Credit Groups that Siyakhula Sonke Trust is working with, improve their lives.
Bongiwe Mkhize
Community Based Promoter
Bongiwe Annacletta Mkhize was born on 18 September 1982 in Thusumuntu in KwaNyuswa in the Valley of a Thousand Hills. She has four children. She has completed Grade 8. Bongi, as she is affectionately known at Siyakhula Sonke Trust, joined in November 2018 as a Community Based Promoter. Bongi started saving in 2017 after joining a Savings and Credit Group near her home. She is passionate about working with people and would like to see the number of Savings and Credit Groups that are established and supported by Siyakhula Sonke Trust grow and the lives of the members of the groups change for the better.
Hloniphile Majozi
Community Based Promoter
Thokozile Gumede
Community Based Promoter
Ntombenhle Dlamini
Community Based Promoter
Nompumelelo Masango
Community Based Promoter
Amanda Madleliza
Community Based Promoter
Our Mission Statement
Siyakhula Sonke, in partnership and in alignment with Godly values facilitates and provides financial and business skills development, mentoring and support to the poverty stricken in the community so that those who are willing are empowered to achieve a sustainable living.
Our Values
ETHICAL
We will be honest and open in all our communication and activities and show complete integrity in pursuing our vision and handling our finances.
Passionate
We will be enthusiastic, committed and persevere in all we do, being living sacrifices to God’s purpose.
Accountable
We will be accountable to God, our partners, our sponsors and for our results.
Innovation and Learning
We and our partners will explore new ideas and opportunities to provide innovative training methods, programmes and/or opportunities to the community, with effective use of technology and communication.
Respectful
We will treat all with the dignity and respect they deserve.
Godly Values
“Whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admired, excellent or praiseworthy for God, we will put into practice.” (Philippians 4:8)
Trustees
Email Duncan:
chairman@siyakhula-sonke.org.za
Duncan Pringle
Chairman
Duncan Pringle lives in Hillcrest in KwaZulu-Natal and is married with two children. He is an agricultural economist with 30 years experience in agribusiness development and development finance.
He is currently Managing Director of Andisa Agri and Chairman of Siyakhula Sonke Trust. Duncan has previously held positions of Head Agri Business South Africa for Phatisa, specialising in AgriBEE transaction advisory and Divisional Manager: Agri Business, Ithala Development Finance Corporation SA. He also consults to the World Bank.
Duncan has served on a number of Boards of agricultural companies, development Trusts and community Trusts in positions as Chair, Vice-Chair, Chairman of the audit committee and non-executive Director. He has managed and participated in assignments and transactions in 13 African countries and applies his experience and knowledge of development finance and enterprise development towards the growth and development of those that Siyakhula Sonke Trust aims to assist.
Email Rev Peter:
v-chairman@siyakhula-sonke.org.za
Rev Peter Crundwell
Vice Chairman
Peter Crundwell is a retired Methodist minister. He was born in Cape Town but moved up to beautiful Kwazulu-Natal in 1992 to be chaplain of Kearsney College. After time at Kearsney he was appointed minister at Kloof Methodist for 14 years. He has now actively retired and lives with his wife, Priscilla, in Hillcrest. They have four children and eleven grandchildren and enjoy spending time with them both locally and overseas.
Peter trained as a teacher at the University of Cape Town. After his call to ministry he studied in the UK for his theological degree.
He is passionate about seeing people’s lives changed through the gospel and uplifting those who have been afflicted by poverty. He loves painting, reading, gardening, walking and writing. He also likes playing the trumpet [badly].
Peter has been involved with Siyakhula Sonke since its inception. After a number of misfires with different approaches he is thrilled that they have now found the approach that works successfully to meet the need for economic empowerment of those in this part of Kwazulu Natal. There has been exciting growth in the past few years and he believes God will continue to prosper this work even more in the future.
Dr Mackie Nyamazana
Trustee
Makhosana Nyamazana or ‘Mackie’, as he is fondly known, lives in Kloof near Durban KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The family home is in Nquthu, northern KwaZulu-Natal. He is married with five children. Mackie has a Doctorate MBA and several post graduate diplomas in the fields of civil engineering, development planning and human resources.
Mackie is a management consultant, specialising in the fields of developmental planning, project and programme management, climate surveys and strategic planning, policy formulation and development, business case development and evaluations. His passion lies in community and small business development and he contributes to the work of Siyakhula Sonke in basic training on small business management and networking for the funding opportunities for small businesses.
Phillip Zuko Mlonyeni
Trustee
Zuko was born in Stellenbosch, and grew up in Dutywa, is married and has 4 children, with two siblings. He holds a Master’s in Business Leadership (Unisa), Bcom. General (UWC), ND: Personnel Mgt (Pentech, now CPUT) and incomplete Bth(TEEC), among others. He has been working in the human resources field since 1994 and is an SABPP accredited Chartered HR Practitioner. During 2013-2015 he served as the Vice Chairperson for the Western Cape Chapter of SABPP
With a passion for community development, Zuko has served as the Vice Chairperson of Imbadu Ma-Afrika development Consortium, based in Stellenbosch. On behalf of RCL Foods, he partnered with Ukukhanya kwe Africa primary School’s Principal, through Partners for Possibilities, a Symphonia South Africa initiative, aimed at improving the principal’s leadership capacity.
He is a member and accredited local preacher of the Methodist Church of Southern Africa, in the Clerpine circuit, where he serves as the Circuit Supervisor of studies, HMC Society Steward responsible for circuit liaison and Ukukhanya Kwe- Africa Reading Volunteers.
He remains in touch with his roots in Gwadana, Dutywa and actively works towards changing the narrative in his rural village. His passion overall is to make the difference in others, in whatever little way he can.