RAPCAN Staff

Christina Nomdo

Executive Director

Christina Nomdo has a MA in gender studies from the University of Cape Town (UCT) and has worked in the children’s sector for more than 15 years. She is an experienced manager, researcher and trainer. Her areas of specialisation include budget analysis from a child rights perspective, child participation and gendered networks.

 

Moefeeda Salie-Kagee

Programme Manager: Child Protection and Support Services Programme

Moefeeda joined RAPCAN in March 2003. Moefeeda is married with two children. She completed her BA Social Work degree at the University of the Western Cape in 1996 after which she worked in the UK for two years.

On her return to South Africa in 1999 she joined NICRO's Victim Support and later Diversion teams. She is a firm advocate of victim empowerment and believes that education is the key to stopping abuse.

 

Kerry-Jane Coleman

Research Coordinator

Kerry-Jane began her career as a social worker working with youth in conflict with the law. She ran the SAYStOP sexual offenders programme for a number of years with youth awaiting trial. She then moved onto Starting the Street children’s project at the V&A Waterfront where she was based for a year and a half. After that she became the OVC coordinator for Hope Worldwide which worked with children infected and affected with HIV/AIDS. She was then promoted to the National position of Technical Advisor and focused on child protection and specialised in advocacy and policy whilst in that position. In 2008/2009 she completed the child protection policy for the company both within South Africa and Africa. She currently works for RAPCAN as the research coordinator and holds a masters in clinical Social work from UCT. Kerry-Jane is married and has one son.

 

Eugene Patientia

Resources Co-ordinator

Eugene attended the University of Cape Town where he completed a BA in English and History. Thereafter he completed a HDE diploma in Education and a diploma in Information Science. After periods of teaching and working in a company library, he started working at RAPCAN as the Information Officer.

He was responsible for the maintenance of the resource centre, the dissemination of child abuse information resources to our client base as well as IT support. In addition, Eugene is an invaluable resource in materials design, web design and DTP. He has more recently been involved in funding proposals and research work.

 

Amanda Adams

Child Witness Project Co-ordinator

Amanda joined RAPCAN in 2009 and is based at Atlantis and Cape Town courts.

 

Blanche Rezant

Healing Project/Child Witness Project Coordinator

She completed her BA in Social Work at the University of the Western Cape in 2006. She has worked in various settings ranging from Community Based Organizations, NICRO and Bosasa Horizon Youth Centre. She prides herself in advocating on behalf of children and youth no matter what the sphere of work may be. Her motto she applies states: “In serving the best interest of children, we serve the best interest of humanity” as quoted by Carol Bellamy.

 

Wilma Jantjies-Mitchell

School Liaison Officer CAP Project

Wilma is one of RAPCAN's Afrikaans-speaking trainers- she works with community groups and school children. She founded the Open Door Project in Ocean View and provided training for Nonceba Centre staff in Khayalitsha. She has been working in the child abuse field for ten years and is a mother of two who enjoys working with people.

 

Shane Lentoor

Community Liaison Officer CAP Project

Shane joined RAPCAN in August 2009 and performs community liaison for the Children are Precious (CAP) project working in the Lavender Hill area. He has 10 years of community development experience, worked in different sectors such as HIV/AIDS, prison sector, arts, masculinity and power and children’s rights. He is currently completing his BA degree.

 

Vuyiswa Sidyiyo

Trainer

Vuyiswa is a married mom of two girls. She taught for 13 years and has worked very closely with her circuit manager in promoting diversity related events in schools in Guguletu and M/Plain. She won prizes for her school for being a dedicated participant in organizing cultural and environmental events in Guguletu.

She was a governing body member and chairperson of both the fundraising and entertainment committees. Vuyiswa furthered her studies and obtained a B.A. degree from UWC in 1999 and an HR Management Diploma from Damelin in 2000. She started working at RAPCAN in April 2005 as a Trainer and is fascinated by all the challenges.

 

Fairouz Nagia-Luddy

Research and Advocacy Officer

Fairouz joined RAPCAN in November 2008. She holds an MPhil Degree in Public Policy from the University of Cape Town. She is currently doing an LLB Degree at the University of the Western Cape and is a passionate advocate for women’s and children’s rights. Her career started as the Ombuds Officer in the City Ombudsman’s Office for the City of Cape Town, focussing on the promotion of administrative justice and the socio-economic rights of Cape Town’s inhabitants. Her career as a women’s rights advocate started at the Gender Advocacy Programme (GAP) as the Project Coordinator for the Domestic Violence Project. Working with women, government institutions, community organisations and the youth, her interest in the rights of women, children and the youth to a violence-free society continues to shape her work.

Fairouz has a particular interest in advocating against the cultural, social and structural violence that inhibits the development of women and children, and hopes to continue being a part of the movement to generate a gender-just and equal society, that nurtures and supports the growth of all people.

 

Nondwe Miki

Switchboard/Receptionist

After completing her Matric, Nondwe did a Secretarial course and Public Relations with Damelin. She started working with NGOs in 1987, working for IDASA as a Regional Secretary.

After working for 6 years for IDASA, she joined Trust for Community Outreach & Education in East London as an Administrator. In 1997 the Office moved to Cape Town and she worked as Office Manager. Her hobbies are reading and cooking.

 

Merle Swartz

CAP Project Corodinator

Merle has worked as an administrator in the corporate sector for the past ten years. She has passion and drive to contribute in a meaningful manner to our community. This need has steered her to RAPCAN which she joined in September 2006. Filled with energy and zest for life, Merle endeavours to expand her knowledge and serve the community and our children. She has recently assumed coordination of the Children are Precious (CAP) Project. 

 

Mercia Jales

Office Assistant

Mercia came to RAPCAN in 1998 after 30 years in the clothing industry, where she worked as a machinist. After being retrenched, Mercia spent two years as a home executive, but found this really boring. She came to RAPCAN because doing something different appealed to her. She enjoys the challenge of ensuring that we all have enough coffee and milk, and the clerical work that she does which oils the wheels. She has three children and three grand-daughters.