Meet the COPESSA Team
Empowering communities and breaking the cycle of abuse
WHO WE ARE
Meet the COPESSA Team
Board Members
Dr Nikelwa Tengimfene
The Chairperson
Nikelwa Tengimfene is a seasoned communicator with over 25 years’ experience within the public sector and currently heading communication and stakeholder relations at a State Owned Entity. She has served in executive and leadership positions for the past two decades.
Nikelwa obtained a PhD degree in Psychology from the University of South Africa. Her areas of research interests are on work-family balance on women, single women and singlism experiences using Afrocentric, phenomenology and feminist-phenomenology perspectives.
She serves on the board of COPESSA, which is an NPO empowering abused women with life and economic skills as the re-build their lives, as a non-executive Director.Nikelwa is a certified Life and Business coach applying Ontological perspective in balancing mind, body and soul to achieve a centred life. She is a mother of two daughters. She nourishes and recharges her being through hiking, walking, skipping, writing, reading, gardening and traveling.
Yvonne Motsisi
Deputy Chairperson
Yvonne Motsisi is the CEO of Pristem South Africa, part of Pristem Global Diagnostics (Switzerland). With a distinguished career at Medscheme Holdings and Life Healthcare Group, she brings extensive leadership experience in private healthcare. She holds a BA in Social Science, a BA Honours, a Master’s in Industrial Relations (University of Sydney), and an MBA (University of Canberra). Yvonne is deeply committed to healthcare transformation and the upliftment of black communities through health and education. She has served as Chairperson of Aid for Aids, Sasol Inzalo ESOP Trust, and currently serves on the boards of Sasol Khanyisa and Sasol South Africa. She is also Deputy Chair of COPESSA, a multi-award-winning NPO focused on preventing violence against women and children. Her passion for people and impact continues to drive her purpose-led leadership.
Anita Mwanda
Secretary
Anita Mwanda is a PhD researcher with a background in youth mental health and social resilience. She has contributed to research projects focused on child and family well-being in South Africa and is passionate about fostering safe, inclusive spaces for young people. Anita brings both lived experience and academic insight to her work in community development and psychosocial support.
She serves as the Secretary of the COPESSA Board.
Bafana Nkosi
Treasurer
Bafana Nkosi was born and grew up in Soweto. He matriculated at Naledi High School in Soweto 1979. Bafana has the following qualifications: BCom; CIS; ILPA; CFP
He also holds the following fellowships:
- FCIBM (Fellow of the Institute of Business Management)
- FCIS (Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries)
- FILPA (Fellow of the Institute of Life and Pension Advisors)
Bafana is currently running his own Development Company and serve on multiple
Boards .
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Thobeka Sishuba-Bonoyi
Thobeka Sishuba Bonoyi holds a position at MTN Group as Executive: Group Company Secretary and Corporate Governance with the main responsibility of providing advisory and counsel to the group board on governance and regulatory requirements.
In addition, the role has group-wide responsibility and accountability on statutory secretariat and governance as well as governance assurance across the 15 countries in which MTN has operations in Africa and the Middle East. Serve as a sounding board to the chairman and LID on regulatory and legislative requirements and governance-related activities. Lead a team of highly qualified legal and governance professionals across Africa and the Middle East with four listed entities in Nigeria, Ghana, Uganda and Rwanda and oversee the secretariat role at the Group. Supports the Mergers and acquisition department by providing listings and corporate governance solutions and assisting with governance reports to the Group Board. Successfully designed a Group Governance Policy and framework that sets standards for the group on governance and assurance. Manage end-to-end board processes and AGM.
She holds a master’s degree in taxation. Currently, she represents the employees as a Trustee of the MTN ESOP Scheme.
Executive Team
Dr Nobs Mwanda
CEO
Dr Nobulembu (Nobs) Mwanda is a deeply passionate community development professional with cross disciplinary training and experience in medicine, especially medico-legal assessment, and support of sexually abused children; leadership; community mobilization and project management; resource mobilization; donor relationship management; and project execution at the community level. She holds a medical degree (MBBCh), and two master’s degree – Master of Science in Medicine- Community Paediatrics & Master of Public Heath – Social and Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC), all from the University of Witwatersrand. As a founder and CEO of COPESSA, a multi-award-winning organization (including Shoprite Checkers Woman of the Year award), she currently works for, and a Board member currently serving on two Boards, viz. COPESSA and MTN Foundation, she brings a wealth of experience in thinking strategically and working to change social behaviour on the ground. She continues to improve her M&E skills, thus her accountability to both funding organisations and the beneficiaries of the programmes offered by COPESSA.
Mothobi Moreboli
Manager
I am Soweto born and bred. I am retired information technology professional of over 40 years and a product of the Business Equipment Association Training Service (BEATS) which was sponsored by an association of business equipment original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), CDC, Rand Xerox. NCR, Burroughs, IBM and maybe one or two others. Upon completing my computer electronics training, my working life started at IBM in 1977 where I was to remain until 1999. In my 38 years of formal employment, I also worked for several other multinational and local bluechip companies that included Compaq, Mustek, Datacentrix, SAP and Oracle. Over the period of my employment, I occupied various positions, initial as an IBM mainframe engineer and followed
by roles as an account manager, an I .T. hardware and software solutions sales representative as well as a sales manager. COPESSA is my first formal involvement in the world of humanities.
Kelebogile Nasie Lechela
Social Worker
Kelebogile Nasie Lechela is a qualified social worker who has been serving at COPESSA since 2017. In her role, she provides psychosocial counseling and leads community outreach and empowerment programs in effort towards supporting survivors of gender-based violence. With a deep commitment to healing and empowerment, Nasie works to restore dignity and promote the well being of vulnerable individuals and families. Her passion lies in helping people reclaim their voices and rebuild their lives through holistic, community-centered support. She continues to advocate for systemic change while walking closely with those in crisis, offering guidance, hope, and practical solutions.
Sicebisile Nongcebo Mkhwanazi
Social Worker
I am an experienced and a qualified social worker with a thorough knowledge of child protection legislations for over six years. Experienced in managing assigned caseloads in an efficient manner, while utilizing exceptional time management skills to successfully advocate for clients and providing support to at risk children. Interviewing clients individually or in families, assessing their situations, capabilities, and problems to determine what services are required to meet their needs. Counselling individuals, families regarding issues including mental health, physical abuse, child and mental care. Very passionate about counselling adolescents whose behavior, school progress, mental or physical impairment indicate a need of assistance, diagnosing adolescents’ problems and arranging needed services. Linking clients to appropriate social services and monitoring them up until the goal is achieved. Providing bereavement support to families.
Sinawo Mgijima
Community Development Practitioner & M&E Lead
Sinawo Mgijima is a passionate community development practitioner and monitoring and evaluation lead at COPESSA, committed to building safer, healthier communities. With a strong focus on gender-based violence prevention, and community empowerment, Sinawo leads and
supports various dialogues, workshops, and youth-centered initiatives that challenge harmful social norms and promote healing. Sinawo brings energy and empathy to every project, ensuring that
voices from all walks of life are heard and included
Tebogo Mothibedi
Social Auxiliary Worker
Social Auxiliary Worker with 3 years of experience at COPESSA under the Victim Empowerment Programme. Skilled in facilitating men’s dialogues, leading GBV awareness campaigns, and coordinating community outreaches. Passionate about promoting gender equality,
preventing gender-based violence, and empowering communities through education and engagement.
MAKING A DIFFERENCE
Our Volunteers
