Our Staff
Johannesburg Office
Laurence Corner - Acting Executive Director
Laurence Corner was born and raised in the Western Cape. He attended Excelsior Secondary School and completed his B.Sc. degree, majoring in Microbiology and Biochemistry, as well as a teacher’s diploma at the University of the Western Cape. He also holds an Honors degree in Science Education from Wits University and is currently completing his MBA at Wits Business School.
From an early age Laurence engaged with community projects that focused on developing the potential of others. He has extensive experience in leading and managing national skills development projects and facilitating workshops on leadership and management development as well as diversity management and group dynamics. He joined the Student Sponsorship Programme (SSP) team in September 2007 after having partnered with SSP in his capacity as Student Recruitment Manager for Wits University since 2003. Laurence is passionate about SSP and sees the opportunity to work with some of South Africa’s brightest and talented future leaders as a privilege. Laurence subscribes to the view and ideals of servant leadership and states that “the most important legacy one can leave is the contribution to the development of others”
Contact: laurence.corner@ssp.org.za
Bheki Masango - Programme Officer
Bheki Masango was born and raised in Newcastle, Kwa-Zulu Natal. He completed his high school education there. After Matric, he completed A+ and MCSE (IT certificates). He also received a higher certificate in Project Management. His work history includes Standard Bank in roles like: IT Support, IT Problem Analyst, IT Project Management, Training Coordinator, and Business Analysis.
His current role at SSP is Data Mining. Bheki has always been involved in community service initiatives. He helped formalize the Scorpions, a community based crime prevention organisation in Emdeni, Soweto. He was also involved in documenting and collecting provisions for the homeless in the Johannesburg CBD. Bheki stated, “moving to SSP was a natural progression, as I have always enjoyed making a difference for the less fortunate.”
Contact: bheki.masango@ssp.org.za
Yvonne K. Lushaba - Bridging Programme Officer
Yvonne Lushaba was born in Pretoria. She did her primary and secondary schooling in Vlakfontein High School in Mamelodi, where she was awarded a Merit certificate in Afrikaans. She then obtained her post graduate degree in Psychology and has since devoted her life to the advancement of learning in South Africa. She started out as a junior lecturer at the University of Limpopo, served as a project manager at Tshwane University of Technology, was a museum manager at ABSA Money Museum and joined Student Sponsorship Programme in 2008.
Yvonne is responsible for the Scholars Development Programme which prepares learners for the transition between their primary schools to the top schools SSP partners with and is “loving it”.
Contact: yvonne.lushaba@ssp.org.za
Meriam Mahlatsi - Programme Officer
Meriam was born and raised in Limpopo. She attended junior primary in Alexandra Township in Johannesburg then moved back to Limpopo were she completed her senior primary. She went to Makgoka High School where she completed her matric. She enrolled at Wits University for a BA Degree majoring in Industrial Psychology, Industrial Sociology and Demography. While at Wits she joined the Wits Volunteer Programme which was an organization that mobilized students and exposed them to various volunteering opportunities. She became involved with a number of them such as Red Cross, Samigos and Sangoco which marked the beginning of her involvement with NGOs and her passion for development and education grew as well.
After graduating she worked for the Financial Sector Council as a clerical worker then moved to Kenwood Home Appliances to work as a Customer Liaison officer. She joined SSP as a Programme Officer coordinating the Mentorship Programme, Parents Forum and stakeholder relations.
Contact: meriam.mahlatsi@ssp.org.za
Kgaogelo Seemola - Student Programme Officer
Kgaogelo Seemola was born and raised in Limpopo (Venda). During his high school years he developed an interest in teaching and student welfare. Following high school, he pursued and completed a Senior Teacher’s Diploma at Venda College and majored in History and Afrikaans. Beginning in 1994, he was employed at United Bank (currently known as ABSA Bank) and served in numerous capacities from junior to supervisory levels. In 2005, Kgaogelo moved to Johannesburg and began teaching at schools in Johannesburg’s CBD, Germiston, and Alberton-Brackenhurst.
He joined the SSP team in July 2009 as a Student Programme Officer. It’s always been his passion to help and contribute positively to the development of students and youth in South Africa and working with SSP allows him to make a meaningful contribution towards their development.
Contact: kgaogelo.seemola@ssp.org.za
Busisiwe Maile - Student Recruitment Officer
Busisiwe Maile was born and raised in Johannesburg. She attended Waverley Girl’s High school and went on to complete her Bachelor of Administration Degree with the University of South Africa. Before joining SSP, Busi worked with an NGO called Conte Contemporary Music College which offered music training to youth from disadvantaged communities in Johannesburg.
She joined SSP in 2010 because of the opportunity it gives her to be part of a progressive movement that seeks to develop the next generation of South Africa’s leaders.
Contact: busisiwe.maile@ssp.org.za
Shawnette Lillian V. Saïd - Programme Officer
Lillian Saïd was born in Kroonstad and later moved to Eden Park to live with her parents. She attended Stoneridge Primary School and continued her secondary career at Eden Park Secondary School. It is here where she was elected as head girl during her Grade 12 year. She completed her marketing and advertising course at AAA School of advertising. Afterwards, she joined Media 24’s advertising department. While working at On-The-Dot logistics, as a team leader for the contact centre, she completed a course in Events Management for which she received a distinction.
Lillian is an active youth and community leader in her residential area and surroundings. She is vice chairperson of Youth Ablaze (youth organization), co-founder of Cactus Arts (drama group) and events coordinator for Young Ambitious Minds (youth dance group). As a poet, Lillian has had a few of her pieces published in various media, but looks forward to the day when the whole poetry collection will be published. Lillian joined the SSP team in 2010 because she believes that by keeping our youth motivated, we are investing in a better tomorrow for us all. She hopes to be present to witness another decade of success for SSP.
Contact: lillian.said@ssp.org.za
Siphokazi Nonyongo - Intern
Siphokazi Nonyongo was born in Durban and spent her childhood between Durban and the Eastern Cape. She completed high school at Durban North College. She was then accepted to the Walter Sisulu University for a Bachelor of Commerce in Economics, which she continues to pursue at UNISA following her move to Pretoria. During her freshmen year at Walter Sisulu University she got involved in charity and NGO organizations that helped combat and reduce challenges experienced by youth in their communities. She also participated in a mentorship programme that helped first year students reach their goals academically.
She became a member of the Umtata Rotary Club in 2009. She is also a member of the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers registered for a National Diploma in Technical Accounting as well. She worked for the Road Accident Fund as part of a learnership in medical bills review/medical auditing in 2010. In 2011, she joined the Student Sponsorship Programme, which is yet another display of her commitment to community service.
Contact: siphokazi.nonyongo@ssp.org.za
Liezel Van Niekerk - Executive Assistant
Liezel grew up in Bloemfontein and matriculated in Oranje High School for Girls. She studied Teaching and Psychology at the UOFS (Kovsies) but could unfortunately not complete her degree due to a car accident after which she spent months in hospital.
Liezel has worked as a PA and administrator with corporate Companies (BHP Billiton, Xstrata and Sphere Holdings, amongst others) and government entities (Gautrain). While at Xstrata, Liezel played a critical role in the implementation of an Adult Basic Education and Training programme. This experience was revelatory to her and underscored for her in a new way the importance of education. Liezel looks forward to contributing to the mission and vision of SSP.
Contact: liezel.vanniekerk@ssp.org.za
Nosipho Sithole - Graduate Programme Officer
Born and raised in Soweto, Nosipho has a degree in Psychology (UNISA) and is currently studying towards an Honours degree, specializing in career counseling and pyschometrics. “I really value education. It’s changed my own life for the better. In this sense, working for SSP ties in very well with that core value – knowing that I’m not just changing a child’s life, but their family and community too,” says Nosipho.
As someone who is passionate about impacting young lives, Nosipho founded a website – www.guidinglight.co.za – which was established to assist high school students in township and rural schools with career related information.
Contact: nosipho.sithole@ssp.org.za
Yassi J. Tamdji - Princeton in Africa Fellow
Yassi joined the SSP team shortly after graduating from Georgetown University and is from Queens, New York. While at Georgetown, she majored in International Politics and earned an African Studies Certificate. In 2009, she studied abroad at the University of Cape Town where her interest in South African history, culture, politics and its public policy challenges grew.
In 2011, she was awarded the Princeton in Africa Fellowship and was placed with SSP. Yassi believes in the power of education to change lives and the beneficial cascading effects education has on families and communities. During her time with SSP, Yassi will work on developing a leadership programme that truly produces “Leaders for South Africa”
Contact: yassi.tamdji@ssp.org.za
Namhla Tshetu - Financial and Administration Manager
Namhla Tshetu was born and raised in Mdantsane, Eastern Cape. She completed her high school education in 1997 from Victoria Girls’ High School located in Grahamstown. She has a National Diploma in Financial Information Systems from Technikon Witwatersrand and a Bridging Certificate in the Theory of Accounting (B.Com Acc. equivalent) from RAU.
She has worked for Eskom Enterprises, The Institute for Global Dialogue and the 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee South Africa.
Contact: namhla.tshetu@ssp.org.za
Regional Office - Eastern Cape Office
Kolisa Siqoko - Regional Director
Kolisa grew up in Tsolo in the Eastern Cape. She attended St. Cuthbert's high school and in 1994 enrolled for her first degree at the University of the Western Cape. The glaring socio-economic differences between children from disadvantaged backgrounds at varsity contributed to Kolisa's deep sense of social consciousness. In 1997 Kolisa graduated and came to work in the Eastern Cape. Later in 2004 when she completed her Masters in Business Administration, she became a lecturer at Walter Sisulu University while training communities around the Eastern Cape in project management.
She joined the SSP team in 2009 and believes that SSP is at the heart of youth development - something she is also passionate about. Kolisa believes in Nelson Mandela's words that "access to quality education is not a dream, but a possibility, those who cannot comprehend it have small imaginations."
Contact: kolisa.siqoko@ssp.org.za
Sibongile Khumalo – Operations Manager
Following a high school education at Settlers Agricultural High School, Sibongile completed a degree at the University of the Witwatersrand in Sleep Physiology. She was first employed by Sigma Sleep Diagnostics to conduct research and clinical work relating to sleep disorders. Sibongile encountered SSP in November 2006, when she volunteered her time with us. She was later offered a full-time position at SSP as the Graduate Programme Officer. After 2 years in this position, Sibongile continued her work with SSP in the Eastern Cape Province where she currently holds the position of Operations Manager.
Sibongile is also an active member of a number of service and youth development organizations, including Rotary International, Keleketla! Library and Imbawula Trust.
According to Sibongile, “I now see myself as a scholar and community change agent. The SSP work is fulfilling, and lets me live the dream of a transformed South African society through empowering our youth”.
Contact: sibongile.khumalo@ssp.org.za
Robyn Coleman - Student Programme Officer
Robyn Coleman was born in Cape Town but raised in the Eastern Cape. She attended Rhodes University and read towards a Bachelor’s degree in Social Science with a distinction in Social Work. In 2006, she read further for a post graduate degree. She is a qualified Social Worker and has a great passion for working with youth and young adults.
After being in the manufacturing, education and financial sector for 10 years, Robyn joined SSP in 2010. She hopes to encourage the students during their journey with SSP and impart her knowledge of the world to them.
Contact: robyn.coleman@ssp.org.za
