Ishrene Davids

General Manager

Ishrene has over 30 years of experience in the social development sector, having worked for the Department of Social Development, Cape Mental Health Society and Community Chest.

Ishrene joined Ikamva Labantu in 2000, where she worked as the HR manager, before becoming the COO and later the Director. In 2011, Ishrene left to pursue her Honours degree in Social Policy and Management at the University of Cape Town, and worked at Community Chest until 2018, where she took on a range of roles, from grant-making to interim COO.

Ishrene returned to Ikamva Labantu in early 2018 as the General Manager, overseeing the operations and management of the organisation.

Barbara Stemmert

Head of Programmes

Barbara graduated from University of Western Cape in 1994 with a BSc in Occupational Therapy. Her career has included working as a Clinical Supervisor at the UWC OT Department and as a Community Rehabilitation Therapist at SACLA Rehabilitation Project. Barbara has also practiced as an OT in the USA, specialising in gerontology.

Barbara joined Ikamva Labantu in 2003 as Programme Manager and has since occupied various positions and spearheaded the expansion of the Early Childhood Development (ECD) Programme. In July 2017, Barbara was appointed to the critical position of Head of Programmes at Ikamva Labantu. She is currently in the process of completing her MSc in Occupational Therapy at the University of Cape Town.

Jovana Djeri

Head of Sustainable Development

Jovana Djeri joined the Ikamva Labantu Fundraising team in 2007, having spent a year as the Antiretroviral Programme Co-ordinator for the Catholic Relief Services’ South African Office. Jovana is of Serbian origin, and prior to moving to South Africa, spent 4 years as the Financial Officer at the Regional Environmental Centre for Central and Eastern Europe.

Jovana studied Marketing Management at the University of South Africa and also has experience in the financial and administrative management of non-profits.

Today, Jovana is Head of Sustainable Development at Ikamva Labantu and is responsible for strategic leadership and development on the fundraising function, including the implementation of a fundraising strategy, donor stewardship and establishment of donor partnerships.

Janine Glanz

Head of Finance

Janine studied a BComm degree through Unisa, while working part-time as a bookkeeper. She completed her articles at Baker Musikanth/Moores Rowland (now Mazars) and qualified as a Charted Accountant in 1995.

Janine took time off to raise her children before going back to work in 2008 as Finance Manager for Col’cacchio restaurant group, where she worked until early 2018. Janine joined Ikamva Labantu as Head of Finance in March 2018.

Isaac Peterson

Head of Operations and Facilities

Isaac has more than 25 years of experience in the non‐profit sector and is well‐versed in NGO Financial Operations and Property Operations.

He joined Ikamva Labantu in 2009 as Finance Manager and in 2015, he assumed the role of Head of Facilities and Operations. Isaac now manages the full spectrum of this portfolio including building operations, employment equity and financial management.

Isaac serves as a Trustee on the Ikamva Labantu Empowerment Trust (ILET) which is a BEE Investment partner of the Ikamva Labantu Charitable Trust.

Xolisa Matoti

Human Resources Manager

Xolisa graduated from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology with a National Diploma in Retail Business Management and a Baccalaureus Technologiae Degree in Human Resource Development.

He started his career in the Retail industry in 2012 and later gained exposure in other industries, including Agriculture/Mariculture and Financial services. Xolisa joined Ikamva Labantu in 2019 as Human Resources Manager and oversees the HR function of the organisation.