Using the power of sport to build a transformed, unified and equitable South Africa
What WE DO
Our Programmes
PeacePlayers South Africa works with 600 youth aged 9-35 in year-round basketball training, conflict resolution education and leadership development activities. Below are the different programme tiers:
This program engages over 400 youth aged 9–13. We currently have 31 teams in 16 schools where each team is made out of 12 boys and 12 girls.
This program engages over 150 youth aged 14–18. These young leaders also participate in Cross Community Peace League and other annual events like the City-Wide Tournament and Girls Basketball Festival.
This program engages over 30 youth aged 15–18, coming from diverse communities. This three-year programme is involved with the Global Friendship Games where participants engage with and travel to our international network of sites.
PeacePlayers South Africa employs 25 sessional coaches aged 18–25, with 98% of them being alumni of our programs. These coaches are youth mentors that get an opportunity to give back to their communities coaching current PeacePlayers participants.
PeacePlayers South Africa employs 3 junior staff members, ages 20–35. This programme is for Area Managers that coordinate and facilitate training for coaches as well as manage partnerships in local schools and communities.
Through Technical Assistance, PeacePlayers South Africa expands our reach by collaborating with already existing organisations, companies, and businesses to share our methodology through capacity building.
Proven Impact
of participants made a friend from a different community through the program
of Leadership Development participants are confident in their leadership skills with friends, peers and family
of our coaches come from our High School and Leadership Development Programmes
of our permanent staff comes from our Coaches Development Program
Our Team
Dr. Alison Misselhorn
Executive Director and Board Member
Location: South Africa
Email: amisselhorn@peaceplayers.org
Nasiphi Khafu
Director of Strategy and Partnerships and Board Member
Location: South Africa
Email: nkhafu@peaceplayers.org
Nasiphi ‘Nas’ Khafu, was born and raised in the Province of the Eastern Cape and now resides in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. She was a participant at PeacePlayers South Africa Leadership Development Programme, then later became a Coach, an Area Coordinator, an International Fellow at PeacePlayers – Northern Ireland then returned to South Africa to be the Strategy and Operations Manager and then the Executive Director at PeacePlayers South Africa. Nas now resides as the Director of Strategy and Partnerships.
She has done a lot of work in the sport for the social development sector that varies from being an implementer in schools and communities. Recently, she has graduated in the Women and Sport Leadership Training through the Women and Sport Leadership Academy and the South African Women and SportsFoundation, she has given presentations at the Women in Business Conference hosted by Bolton Burdon Solicitors in London, UK, at the Impact Sustainable Development and Product Development hosted by Mojere Invest Hub in East London University, UK and the Scaling up sport’s contributions to the SDGs: Partnership for impact focusing on SGD 5 and 16 hosted by Wilton Park in the UK. Some of her achievements include being one of twelve young South African basketball coaches that attended the US State Department’s skills development exchange programmes in 2012, she attended and was a youth speaker at the Laureus Youth Empowerment through SportsProgramme (YES) Summit in Barcelona in 2012, Spain, she attended States Department and the NCAA Women Coaches Academy in Colorado, Denver in 2014 and co-facilitated leadership training as a Laureus Youth Empowerment through Sport mentor at PeacePlayers – Cyprus in 2014 & 2015 and she was a panellist at the One Young World Summit in Bangkok, Thailand in 2015.
Previously, she worked as a Fitness Instructor at Virgin Active Classic, volunteered for the Siyabathanda Abantwana Youth Organisation as Marketing and Communications Manager, and served as the Vice President of the From the Roots board. She graduated with a three-year National Diploma in Sport Management from the Durban University of Technology in 2010.
Nasiphi is a young woman who has dedicated her life to social development to help advance youth and women’s advocacy through interactions and sport. She is passionate about travelling to different parts of the world to learn and share her experience with people that come from diverse backgrounds and find solutions to some of the issues that the youth face.
Sifiso Mthembu
Programmes Manager
Location: South Africa
Email:smthembu@peaceplayers.org
I was born in Richards bay and grew up in Molweni in the Durban West Region known as “The Valley of Thousand Hills.” I was raised by a single mother with 3 brothers and one sister. I was a soccer player growing up, but got injured early in my career. When I got involved with Peace Players–South Africa my life changed for the better. I got the chance to learn about different cultures and communities and made a lot of friends both within South Africa and abroad. Basketball and PeacePlayers has brought out the best out of me and it makes believe that winning more than just gold medals. It’s about helping yourself to help one another to change this world. Sport has the power to unite and educate people and I am grateful to be a part of PeacePlayers.
Noluthando Msweli
Human Resources Manager
Location: South Africa
Email: nmsweli@peaceplayers.org
Noluthando ‘Thando’ Msweli, was born and raised in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. She was introduced to the PeacePlayers South Africa Family through the Leadership Development Programme in 2011, then later became a Coach, an Area Coordinator, and is now occupying the Operations Manager role.
Thando was born and bred in Durban, finishing her undergraduate in Housing at UKZN (the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Throughout her schooling career, she has been involved in sport and youth Empowerment through organizations such as Peaceplayers, Laureus, UDOBO and UNOSDP (United Nations Office on Sport for Development). Noluthando has proven herself to be quite a hard worker, passionate and always eager to learn young lady. She was chosen to attend the United Nations on Sports Development and Peace Camp in 2015 which was hosted in Sweden. She was invited back in 2017 to mentor the new intake of young leaders and to be part of the conference hosted by UNOSDP. She has been quite the advocate for the equity and empowerment of women in all spheres and spaces. Thando has done a lot of youth and empowerment work not only through sport but also in her endeavours in the commercial and property development field.
Previously, she worked as Chief of Staff for a successful Holdings Company which focused on property, commercial and retail developments. She also recently graduated from the University of KwaZulu-Natal with her Masters in Housing and planning and is still looking to further her studies. Noluthando is passionate about travelling to different parts of the world to learn and share her experiences with people from diverse backgrounds and is always willing to contribute to addressing issues and finding solutions, whilst uplifting individuals and communities.
SAnele zondi
Lamontville & Wentworth Area Coordinator
Location: South Africa
Email: szondi@peaceplayers.org
Sanele Zondi is the Area Manager in Lamontville and Wentworth townships in Durban. He manages a highly trained team of coaches whose main objectives are to spark lights and change people’s lives hence, Bridging Divides, Developing Leaders and Changing perceptions. His area of expertise includes recruiting suitable candidates, conducting interviews, facilitating the induction process and delivering distinct training. A few of his other roles include program planning, analyzing budgets for programs calendars, data capturing, and holding area meetings.
Sanele Zondi has won the Area Manager of the year 2019 award, completed a Facilitators Certificate Level 10, and he’s a First Aid graduate level 1. Sanele has worked within the organization for 11 years, starting off as a participant then growing into a Primary School Program Coach and a Leadership Development Coach. Laureus Sport for Good Sport for Good Foundation has added lots of value by enabling him to attend training accredited with Sport Event Management Certificate. Sanele has always been eager to grow and with his current role as an Area Coordinator, he has more responsibilities than he takes pride in. Among other credentials, Sanele is looking to venture into other areas of work such as writing proposals, fundraising, and building relationships with multiracial schools to help strengthen the rainbow nation and to encourage a culture of social cohesion to benefit the organization’s interest Sanele Zondi is a sportsperson who plays Basketball, loves to read, and enjoys the lifestyle in Durban.
Enicia Tshibanda
Durban City Area Coordinator
Location: South Africa
Email: etshibanda@peaceplayers.org
Enicia is a young and vibrant lady, born in the Democratic Republic of Congo, in a City called Lubumbashi. She and her family moved to South Africa in 2001 fleeing from the heated war that was present in Congo. She started her primary education in 2004 at Carrington Primary School, and High School education at Brettonwood High school, where she completed her matric with a Bachelor’s pass. She recently completed her Marketing Diploma and Bachelor of Technology in Marketing at the Durban University of Technology and is still furthering her qualifications. She works at PeacePlayers South Africa as a Basketball coach, coaching Carrington Primary school which falls under their Primary school program. Enicia has been part of the organisation for the past 13 years where she joined as a participant in our primary school program then moved to high school and joined the leadership development program. She later became a coach in 2017 coaching Carrington Primary School for the past 4 years. She is no stranger to the vision and mission of the organisation and portrays the true meaning of being a PeacePlayer. In 2019 she took part in the Young Emerging Leaders Programme (YEL) where she was trained on mental health and intelligence. Enicia is in the process of starting her own Digital Marketing Company where she wishes to share her skills in order to help Develop Small upcoming business digitally.
Thobani Ngubane
Umlazi Area Coordinator
Location: South Africa
Email: tngubane@peaceplayers.org
Thobani Ngubane received a Certificate in Administration and Sport from ETA College and is currently an Area Coordinator at PeacePlayers South Africa. He’s a strong advocate for personal development, taking risks, and building personal brands. Thobani is a core founder of Smart Gold NLLP company with his partner Sboniso Andreas that focuses on business development, career development, cash flow management, personal development, and digital transformation.
His professional interests focus on helping people reach their true potential selves, and his current projects include leading the Leadership Development Program (LDP) with Douglas Nedab at PeacePlayers SA. In addition to his love for the game of basketball and work at PeacePlayers, he also plays basketball, plays cricket, and coaches netball in Vukuzakhe High School. He is a level 1 1st Aider and a Qualified Facilitator.
Phindile Ndebele
Bookkeeper and Office Administrator
Location: South Africa
Email:dnedab@peaceplayers.org
Our Board
Rita Mizrachi
Board Chairperson
Rita is an experienced Commercial Attorney and compliance professional, running her own legal and compliance law firm. Starting her own successful business without any prior business experience and educating herself, has also served her in good stead. As a practising attorney specializing in commercial and company law, she has advised numerous clients on business structuring, director’s functions and company law, compliance with a wide range of different industries’ regulatory requirements, good corporate governance, transparency and accountability, in addition to their contractual drafting, structuring and vetting needs, within their own companies. In addition to her LLB (cum laude) she holds a Compliance Management Certificate, which included the above-mentioned theory from an enterprise-wide risk management perspective, international codes of conduct and good practice related to corporate governance and the principles of the King Commission Report.
She brings her vast knowledge of business, board functions and responsibilities, commercial, contract and corporate law and compliance as well as legal and drafting skills to the board. She previously served as the Secretary of the Peace Players South Africa Board of Directors since November 2017 and is excited to further give back as Chairperson, appointed in January 2019. She believes that true change and transformation starts with youth empowerment, education and developing their leadership skills, to foster understanding, acceptance and respect for a truly equal and peaceful South Africa and World.
Vassie Nyananah
Treasurer
Vassie Nayanah is a business consultant and a finance guide setting up
accounting systems, company policy and procedures with strong management reporting systems. She holds a Bachelor Commerce degree with several other courses including supply chain management. Her career of 38 years spans various industries, namely shipping, steel and food manufacturing and automotive paint manufacturing.
Her biggest career growth opportunity was realised at food manufacturing
the company, Pakco (Pty) Ltd, where she started as a bookkeeper and worked her way up to the ranks of Financial Director. Her hands-on experience in a challenging business environment led to her involvement in all the areas of the business, She brings with her vast knowledge and experience in business, board functions and responsibilities. Providing holistic advice, direction and guidance in all areas of business. She has a strong passion for social responsibility and believes in giving back to humanity and is currently serving 3 NPO as treasurer. The Durban floral art club, Verulam Kalay Khazagam (religious body) and as a non-executive Board member of PeacePlayers in a position as treasurer.
Slindile Mnguni
Secretary
Slindile is the founder and MD of Elevation Accounting, a qualified accountant and governance professional with extensive experience in both public and private sector. She obtained her BCom Hons(Acc) from UKZN and went on to complete her articles at Deloitte.
She is passionate about the growth and sustainability of small businesses in South Africa and helping them reach their full potential by providing them with consulting, administrative, accounting and tax support to ensure their compliance with various legislation.
Sli is married with 4 children, with her busy household she enjoys an active lifestyle and has been a PPSA board member for about 3 years.
Maimoona Salim
Business development support
Mai currently serves as a Vice Chairperson in the Women In Business Forum at the Durban Chamber of Commerce Durban while managing her own consulting business. She is the Executive Director and Board of trustee of Advanced Digital Opportunities Foundation Nigeria and has a Doctorate in business and Enterprise Management. She is an Experienced Director of Operations with a demonstrated history of working in the non-profit organization management industry in new business development and fundraising. Executed skills training programme for unemployed youth, also trained and facilitated diversity, management and leadership programmes for middle management. Skilled in operations management, regional management, b2b relationship management and strong stakeholder relations. Mai has a Masters focused in Business administration (MBA) from Regenesys business school. Mai has been involved in community-based projects in the local communities in mentoring and coaching marginalized woman and orphaned girls by instituting
cultural and diversity workshops. Her experiences vary from retail, corporate and NPO.
Our Partners
Media and Awards
