South Africa

"The staff there were all amazing! The food was awesome and the accomodations were great! All of the staff was great and I will definitely not forget them. They were all so helpful and really tried to be there for you for anything you needed."

Meghan O'Brien, South Africa Volunteer

In-Country Staff in South Africa

Staff in South Africa Local CCS staff in Cape Town will welcome you to the community, make you feel at home, and help you better understand South African culture and history. They will help facilitate your volunteer experience and are always available to answer any questions that may arise. CCS staff is always from the region where we operate—they provide a local perspective, help you learn the local language, and guide you in what to do in your free time.

All of our in-country staff members are warm, loving people who will make sure you are well cared for. Each CCS program site has a Country Director or Program Director and a full staff to take care of all programming, administrative, and logistical needs, as well as housekeepers, drivers, house guards, and cooks. Because the staff office is typically located at the CCS Home-Base, a helping hand is never far. Learn more about our staff in Cape Town below.

Country Director: Luann Mabakoena Hatane Luann Mabakoena Hatane, South Africa Country Director
As Country Director for South Africa, Luann is responsible for the programming, management and operations, and overall strategic direction of CCS within South Africa. She is also responsible for compliance with local and national regulations, and the efficacy of our volunteers’ work in the field.

Luann received a bachelor’s degree in Social Work from the University of Cape Town. She has 15 years experience working in the non-governmental organization (NGO) and civil society sector in the areas of HIV/AIDS and civil society strengthening, policy development, and community mobilization. She has worked extensively as the HIV/AIDS Theme Coordinator for CARE South Africa-Lesotho. CARE is an international development agency that works worldwide with families and communities, governments, civil society organizations and the private sector to promote rights realization, education, economic development, agricultural production, food security, and health care.

As HIV/AIDS Coordinator (HAC) she was responsible for the management (planning, resource mobilization, implementation, monitoring, and reporting) of all HIV/AIDS initiatives for CARE in Lesotho, South Africa, and Swaziland. The primary purpose of the position was to provide overall oversight and supportive technical assistance to ensure that CARE’s HIV/AIDS programs remain relevant and effective.

Luann also served as Executive Director at Western Cape Networking AIDS Community of South Africa (WC-NACOSA). This organization aims to promote an expanded inter-sectoral response to HIV/AIDS through building capacity and mentoring NGO’s and community-based organizations (also known as CBOs) in the Western Cape province focusing on HIV/AIDS, while also promoting dialogue and providing technical assistance to government programs and policy developments at a national, provincial, and local level in South Africa.

Luann also has previous experience as a Client Services Manager for the Triangle Project which facilitated the implementation of health development programs targeting sexual minorities.

Luann is a qualified social worker and has worked within the field of social development, specializing in South Africa and Lesotho with some consultancy experience in East Africa. She was the Project Coordinator with Cape Town’s Salesian Institute supervising the management, assessment, and residential care of 30 street youths, 17 to 25 years of age.

House Manager: Shirley Ilunga
Shirley is a Capetonian—she grew up in the Cape Flats, but her family's roots are based in the rural Eastern Cape. Shirley has worked for the last eight years with many NGOs as an administrator and has strong book-keeping and financial management skills. As the House Manager for CCS South Africa, Shirley is responsible for logistical arrangements such as arranging transportation and food. Shirley is vivacious and social, and both a great organizer and mobilizer! Shirley has an added advantage of speaking three local indigenous languages. With some encouragement from her husband; we are hoping she may add Swahili and French to her linguistic collection. Shirley deeply enjoys assisting volunteers and warmly welcoming them to her city!

Program Officer: Tahira Kassiem
Tahira, who has over ten years experience as a qualified social worker, is a Capetonian from the Cape Flats. She previously worked as a school social worker and counselor for Rockland’s High School in Mitchells Plain. While there she counseled students, parents and staff on a wide variety of issues including discipline, parenting skills, behavioral problems, substance abuse, trauma, sexual abuse, domestic violence, divorce, teenage pregnancy, depression, and even grant applications.

At the Cape Mental Health Society, Tahira worked as a Public Education and Volunteer Manager, and designed and presented exhibitions, workshops, and radio interviews to NGOs, CBOs, and educational and religious institutions on stress management, depression, stigma, and rights of the disabled.

As a social worker, Tahira worked at the Cape Clothing Bargaining Council in Salt River. She counselled clothing industry workers on a wide variety of issues including substance abuse, parenting, domestic violence, abortion, pre/post HIV/AIDS test, depression, mental illness, sexual abuse, rape, trauma, and bereavement. Additional social work employment includes three years spent at the Cancer Association of South Africa.

Tahira has a bachelor’s degree in social science from the University of Cape Town and was responsible for supervising undergraduate social work students in their final year at the University of Cape Town. She is a native English speaker and has basic knowledge of Afrikaans.

Cook: Simone Moema
Simone grew up in the Northern Cape and has lived in the suburb of Retreat for the last ten years. Simone comes from a big family where food plays an important role in bringing people together, and she is also a descendent of the original Nama people who were living in the Cape when European settlers arrived. Simone has worked in different sectors through her career, including home care for the elderly and catering services for different NGOs. Simone also holds a learnership degree in community development from Boland College and she has completed a number of other courses. Simone loves cooking and working with people (especially CCS volunteers), and treating them to local dishes.

Kitchen Assistant: Nolundi Mndai
Nolundi is young and full of energy. She lives in Macassar (a township near Khayelitsha), but has strong roots in a rural village in the Eastern Cape called Qumbu. Nolundi came to CCS from school, but was unable to finish because of financial reasons. While in school, Nolundi supported herself by working housekeeping and child care jobs during her holidays and weekends. Now that she is working with CCS, Nolundi is hopeful that she will be able to complete her schooling remotely in her spare time. Nolundi is very excited to be a part of the CCS South Africa team and to teach volunteers about Xhosa culture.

Driver: Mr Malinga Mshumpela
Mr. Mshumpela was born and raised in Langa, one of the oldest townships in Cape Town. As the CCS South Africa driver, Mr. Mchumpela will pick you up and drop you off at the airport and he provides transportation to and from the volunteer placements. Before joining CCS South Africa, Mr. Mshumpela worked for eight years as a dedicated driver for the Tembalethu School for the Disabled in Gugulethu. Mr. Mshumpela is an avid jazz lover and works hard to ensure that not only are CCS volunteers transported in safety, but that they also have some good sounds to accompany them. Mr. Mshumpela is also an avid sports fan!

Housekeepers: Veronica Elese and Natasha Mshwadi
Veronica and Natasha both live in Khayelitsha, a township about 30 minutes from Cape Town. As the CCS Housekeepers, Veronica and Natasha work hard to keep the Home-Base clean and comfortable. Veronica hails from Queenstown, in the Eastern Cape, and has worked as a housekeeper for many years. While she comes across as quiet and reserved, she is a very keen singer. Natasha is also a good singer, she is lots of fun and has a great sense of humor.

Home-Base Guards: Nieklaas "Nic" Meyer, Thamsanqa "Tami" Brooks, and Mawetu Tofile
As the CCS South Africa guards, Nic, Tami, and Mawetu are in charge of the safety of the house and all of the volunteers. Nic is our most experienced guard and has many years of experience working in hospitality and security. Nic is welcoming and friendly to all our volunteers and also ensures that they do not forget important security and safety measures. Nic is an avid gardener and is passionate about keeping our Home-Base garden looking beautiful and making it an enjoyable place to relax in. Tami hails from the Eastern Cape, and has many years experience working in security in the Uitenhage area of South Africa. Mawetu is also from the Eastern Cape, from the large town of Butterworth (Gcuwa), but has lived for the past seven years in the neighborhood of Nyanga Junction in Cape Town. Mawetu has five children and is patiently awaiting grandchildren. Mawetu has done various contract labor work over the years and he is very wise in the Xhosa traditions— he is our very own Home-Base elder, or tata.

CCS offers the following programs in South Africa:
Volunteer Abroad -- 3 to 12 weeks | Click for Start Dates
Intern Abroad -- 6 to 12 weeks | Click for Start Dates

Request more information about volunteering in South Africa or read more about the CCS Experience in Cape Town, South Africa from the topics below:

Read stories and testimonials of participants who have volunteered in South Africa or watch one of our videos on volunteering abroad.