Ensuring that social effort has actual impact
About Valcare

Ensuring that social effort
has actual impact

Valcare works to activate and enable social change in collaboration with social investors, nonprofits, and other key stakeholders in South Africa

Our Story

Valcare was established more than 20 years ago to make a positive change in South Africa. We unite, empower, connect and equip nonprofit organisations to achieve
effective social impact.

Through our unique operations model, we connect investors and organisations and guide them through the process of social change. By doing this, we have managed to impact thousands of lives. Our innovative thinking and practices ensure our funders’ Rands work harder to bring about effective social change.

Our team

The Valcare team consists of a group of professionals who are
not only experts in their respective fields, but who are also
passionate about facilitating social change in South Africa.

Ivan Swartz

Ivan has worked in the social impact space for nearly a decade and specialises in strategy, organisational culture and building collaborative teams. Before his involvement in Valcare, he worked as a management consultant in the petro-chemical, insurance, healthcare, and manufacturing industries. Ivan holds an MBA, an honours degree in Industrial Psychology and a BA in Communications from the North-West University. He enjoys long-distance running, any form of chocolate and spending time with his beautiful wife and son.

Ivan Swartz

Chief Executive Officer

Brendan Smith

Brendan has over 20 years of experience in the social sector. He is a former British Army officer specialising in humanitarian aid. He has worked with several international organisations, including NATO and the United Nations, in over 40 countries in Europe, Africa and Asia. Brendan holds a Master’s Degree from Tabor College, Australia, and a BComm (Hons) from UKZN. He also has several professional post-graduate degrees and qualifications from Cambridge University. He loves the outdoors, scuba diving, hiking, his family, and ice cream.

Brendan Smith

Chief Operations Officer

Anniza de Wet

Anniza has more than ten years of experience in the nonprofit sector, including working in the UK for multiple nonprofit organisations. She is passionate about the professionalisation of monitoring and evaluation to empower nonprofits to elevate their evaluation practices, bringing life, meaning and value to evaluations. She has a BA in Social Dynamics and a PGD in Monitoring and Evaluation from Stellenbosch University. Anniza loves to bake. She bakes intricate cakes, cupcakes, and treats for her dog Bo and his friends.

Anniza de Wet

Chief Impact Officer

Esté Beerwinkel

Esté has ten years of experience in journalism and communications. Prior to joining Valcare, she worked at various publications, academic institutes, and nonprofit organisations and has a track record of designing communications for impact. She has a BA in International Studies and a BPhil in Journalism from Stellenbosch University. Esté is passionate about language, crossword puzzles, and winning at trivia games.

Esté Beerwinkel

Communication Manager

Jolanda van der Lingen

Jolanda has been with Valcare for almost 20 years and has more than 25 years of experience in the nonprofit sector. She is passionate about building and retaining strong and meaningful relationships and empowering nonprofits to build and expand their networks. She has been involved with academic institutes for the past ten years, sharing her experience and knowledge with students. She has a Master’s degree in Social Work from Stellenbosch University. Jolanda believes a good day is filled with laughter; she loves spending time with her family and pets.

Jolanda van der Lingen

Relationship Manager

Courtney Gabriels

Courtney has over ten years of experience in interpersonal relations and five years of experience specialising in Community Development and implementing community-based projects. Before joining Valcare, she worked for the Local Government and the Department of Health. Courtney holds a BA in Psychology and an Honours Degree in Social Development, focusing on Development Management and Community Development. She loves to laugh, eats good food, and is a sports fan.

Courtney Gabriels

Network Officer

Oupa Muchenga

Oupa has six years of experience in results-based monitoring and evaluation. Prior to joining Valcare, he worked in both the public and private sectors in the field of research, project management, monitoring, and evaluation. He has an Honours degree in Development Studies and a postgraduate certificate in Project and Programme Monitoring and Evaluation. Although he appears shy and reserved, nothing gets him out of his shell like a good game of cricket or football.

Oupa Muchenga

Monitoring and Evaluation Officer

Ronlyn Zwaan

Ronlyn has been with Valcare since 2018 when she interned as a Social Auxiliary Worker. In 2019, she took on the role of administrative assistant and is currently the Data and Systems Officer. She has a qualification in Social Auxiliary Work from Hugenote College and a qualification in Community Health Work from Glen Lilly Training College. She enjoys walking her dogs, spending time with her family and eating everything that contains sugar.

Ronlyn Zwaan

Data and Systems Officer

Liezl Tolkin

Liezl joined Valcare in 2006 and is currently working as the Office Manager. She manages the Vuka Co-working Space, which Valcare shares with three other organisations. Her focus is on ensuring operations flow smoothly through systems practices and efficiency. She has a qualification in Secretarial Public Relations from Boland College Stellenbosch. Liezl loves reading fiction and binge-watching series. She often wishes to escape to the 80s—the decade with the best music ever!

Liezl Tolkin

Office Manager

Siphesihle Cekiso

Siphesihle started her career at Valcare as an administrative intern, and now she works as our front-of-house receptionist. She is passionate about working with people and has a qualification in management assistance. She enjoys unleashing her creative side by experimenting with different make-up styles.

Siphesihle Cekiso

Receptionist

Board of directors

The Valcare Board of Directors is committed to running the organisation according to a set of ethical values to which it is held accountable. It has a responsibility to ensure the organisation conducts its affairs with integrity, pursues its mission with excellence
and safeguards the interests of all stakeholders.

Mapitsi Mary Mononela

Mapitsi Mary Mathabatha (Mononela) is an experienced social advocate in education, gender and development. She devotes herself to creating women and child-friendly communities where the voices of these vulnerable groups are integrated into the development of policies and in all spheres of government. She holds a degree in education from the University of the North-West and postgraduate qualifications in education and gender studies.

Mapitsi Mary Mononela

Former Chief Director: National Department of Women, Children and People with Disabilities

Pieter Wasserfall

Pieter Wasserfall is the Managing Director at Six33 Group. After completing his studies at Stellenbosch University and qualifying as an actuary, Pieter worked predominantly in the financial services industry for ten years. He is also the co-founder of The Aslan Trust, whose goal is to empower nonprofit organisations sustainably to reach marginalised and vulnerable people across Africa. He is a natural visionary and strategic thinker who offers guidance and leadership in our fast-paced culture.

Pieter Wasserfall

Managing Director at Six33 Group
Co-founder of the Aslan Trust

Morné Bosch

Morné Bosch is the Managing Director of the Val de Vie Management Group of Companies. He also serves as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Val de Vie HOA. He follows a hands-on approach in managing the estate operations to ensure that the stakeholders’ vision is achieved. His field of expertise lies in business restructuring and operations management. He completed his articles at PricewaterhouseCoopers and obtained a CA (SA) and an MBA (USA).

Morné Bosch

MD of the Val de Vie Management Group of Companies

Ivan Swartz

Ivan has worked in the social impact space for nearly a decade and specialises in strategy, organisational culture and building collaborative teams. Before his involvement in Valcare, he worked as a management consultant in the petro-chemical, insurance, healthcare, and manufacturing industries. Ivan holds an MBA, an honours degree in Industrial Psychology and a BA in Communications from the North-West University. He enjoys long-distance running, any form of chocolate and spending time with his beautiful wife and son.

Ivan Swartz

Chief Executive Officer of Valcare

Brendan Smith

Brendan has over 20 years of experience in the social sector. He is a former British Army officer specialising in humanitarian aid. He has worked with a number of international organisations, including NATO and the United Nations, in over 40 countries in Europe, Africa and Asia. He holds a Master’s Degree from Tabor College, Australia, and a BComm (Hons) from UKZN. He also has a number of professional post-graduate degrees and qualifications from Cambridge University, the University of Wales, and the NATO School, Oberammergau, Germany.

Brendan Smith

Chief Operating Officer of Valcare

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