What is a trustee?

A trustee is someone who is elected or appointed by a charitable organisation to make decisions on behalf of the organisation that are in the best interest and to the benefit of its beneficiaries.

The trustees are responsible for the organisation’s work and must manage, invest and properly distribute the organisations assets and resources according to the purposes the trust. They must ensure that the resources are applied and distributed equally to all the beneficiaries. Trustees should also account to the beneficiaries how the organisation’s resources and assets have been applied.

The Rachel's Angels Trustees are (f.l.t.r): Dr Michael le Cordeur, Mr. Neil Jansen, Prof. Rachel Jafta Dr Mvula Yoyo, Ms. Luzelle Yon and Mr. Heindrich Wyngaard.

Prof. Rachel Jafta (Chairperson)
Prof. Jafta’s qualifications include a B.Econ as well as a PhD in Economics as well as being  fluent in Italian. She is currently Associate Professor at Stellenbosch University as well as a director of Naspers and Media24. With a number of accolades, including Departmental Awards for Research and Teaching Excellence at Stellenbosch, she is widely published and is involved in broader training and education.

Dr Michael Le Cordeur
Dr Michael le Cordeur is lecturing Afrikaans Didactics in the Faculty of Education at the University of Stellenbosch. Previously he lectured Didactics, Classroom Management and Education Management at the Peninsula University of Technology. He is the author of various school textbooks and is a former language teacher, school principal and Area Manager of Education. He completed a doctorate (PhD) in Education at the University of Stellenbosch and also holds degrees from the University of the Western Cape, UNISA and Stellenbosch University’s Graduate school of business. His research deals with the improvement of learners’ reading and writing skills by using information technology and the media.　

Neil Jansen
Mr Neil Jansen is a seasoned Human Resource practitioner with 15 years experience. He spent 10 years with the Transnet Group from 1994 until 2003. In this time he climbed the ranks from a Trainee Human Resource Practitioner at Spoornet, Port Elizabeth to a Deputy Executive Manager at Protekon Cape. In 2004 he joined Media24, initially as Group Human Resource Manager for Via Afrika and later served 3 years as General Manager Human Resources for Media 24.

Some of the highlights of his career at Media24 include his role as Project Manager of a public offer through which 107 000 black investors secured a 15% stake in Media 24 through the Welkom Yizani public offer. He has been a Non Executive Director of Welkom Yizani since 2006. He joined Lewis as Human Resource Director on 1 September 2008.

Heindrich Wyngaard
Mr Heindrich Wyngaard is a Political Editor and a Senior Assistant Editor at Die Burger. He　also writes a weekly profile on a newsmaker and a monthly column on political and socio-economic matters. He has　just published a book on the Springbok coach,　"Die Gevleuelde Woorde　en Wyshede van Peter de Villiers" and　is also known as a writer of short stories.　His previous positions include Political Editor and columnist at Rapport and presenter of the weekly programme ‘Wat’s die storie’ on kykNET. Mr Wyngaard is also deputy chairperson of the Suidoosterfees board of directors and a member of the ATKV's cultural committee. He is often invited to serve as a guest speaker at functions and he frequently takes parts in debates on RSG and SAfm.

Luzelle Yon
Ms Luzelle Yon is passionate about people, social justice and politics. She is a Political Science graduate from the University of Stellenbosch, where she earned a BA International Studies (cum laude) degree and a Masters degree in Political Management (cum laude). She lectured Global Governance at the University of Stellenbosch　on a part-time basis and regularly presents topics on her Masters Thesis (Coloured Identities in South Africa / Identity Politics) to national and international student audiences. Luzelle worked as a researcher and consultant at the South African Parliament's nation-building programme before joining the United Nations' Refugee Agency as a humanitarian worker, where she has been employed since September 2008. She is an alumnus of the Mandela Rhodes Scholarship Programme, which aims to build exceptional leadership capacity in Africa.

Dr Mvula Yoyo
Dr Yoyo’s qualifications include a MA at UCLA and a D.Litt et Phil. His former positions include Senior Lecturer at the Department Afrikaans, Head of Department and Manager of Co-operative Education Services at the University of Fort Hare. Currently he is the Transformation General Manager at Medi-Clinic Head Office in Stellenbosch. He presented numerous workshops in the Eastern Cape, Northern Cape and Gauteng and is a council member of the University of Stellenbosch. He is also a member of the Pan South African Language Board and the Klein-Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees. Currently he serves as Chairperson of Fort Hare Inkwenkwezi Trust.