“We rise by lifting others." Working at DAG provides a platform to create a positive change in the lives of disadvantaged communities.

Alicia is the Human Resources Administrator at DAG. Her work mainly focuses on providing administrative support to project staff and programme managers. In addition, she provides HR support to the Executive Director. She is particularly interested in cultivating a work environment that empowers and motivates employees in an attempt to help them realize their full potential and how it fits into the growth of the organisation.  She holds a degree in Industrial Psychology and Public Administration from the University of the Western Cape. She enjoys working at DAG, because she believes the organisation provides a platform for continued learning that enable people to grow and learn something new every day.

 I am yet to see a better balance of work than what DAG does. It is inspiring to be part of this huge organization which I have always admired from afar. Now I am also part of this space, building relationships and gaining skills I have never begun to think I would.

Bonisa is an intern at DAG under the Asivikelane Project. Her role is to provide administrative support to the Asivikelane Project. Bonisa is interested in being part of the change that she would like to see. She enjoys her work at DAG because the organisation provides the platform for her to create change and that change entails working closely with marginalised communities, ensuring that they  have access to resources, basic services and importantly building and strengthening relationships within their communities, government officials and other stakeholders. Bonisa holds an Honours Degree in Public Administration and a Bachelor's Degree in Politics & Governance, Environmental & Geographical Science (EGS) from the University of Cape Town. She is happy to be to be part of an organisation that seeks to advance the excluded groups by putting them at centre of their development, and better equip them with skills that would improve their standard of living.

I enjoy being part of an organisation that not only influences policies, but also remains rooted at the grassroots level.

Chuma is a Project Coordinator for DAG. His work focuses mainly on the Contractor & Developer Academy (CDA) - a social enterprise development programme that focuses on capacitating and providing technical support to emerging contractors and developers in testing innovative housing delivery mechanisms. He holds a National Diploma in Town & Regional Planning from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology. To enhance his capability and skills, he completed a Property Management course and a Housing Finance for Sub-Saharan Africa course from the University of Cape Town. His work experience has made him more sensitive to both construction and urban development challenges. He is passionate about using his skills as tools to enact positive change in the delivery of affordable housing as well as to add value to communities at large.

Working at DAG means I can contribute toward the systemic change we need to create more equitable cities.

Claudia is a Project Coordinator at DAG. Her work focuses on institutionalising relevant land-based financing and land value capture strategies in South African metropolitan cities. She is particularly interested in the use of Land Value Capture as a funding mechanism for spatial transformation and inclusion.  She holds a Masters degree in Sustainable Urban Development from the Bartlett Development Planning Unit, UCL, and a BSc in Environmental Sciences from University of Cape Town. Working at DAG excites her because it is an opportunity to continually learn and unlearn every day, as well being a way to action her passion for spatial justice.

I am blessed to be able to fulfill my purpose and live my passion on a daily basis. DAG enables me to earn a living while doing so!

Crystal is a Programme Manager at DAG. She is responsible for the “Re-imagining Neighbourhoods” programmatic area, which includes DAG’s Informal Settlement Upgrading Projects, Active Citizen’s Training Course, Socio-Technical Support, Woodstock / Salt River and Asivikelane WC projects. She has a track record of more than 25 years of successfully launching and managing large scale programs in NGOs. She has successfully coordinated several multi-disciplinary human settlements projects in both EPHP and Informal Settlement Upgrading from inception to successful completion. In addition, Crystal has led the implementation of community prioritized sustainable livelihood initiatives in more than 10 projects in the Western Cape, Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. Crystal’s extensive experience in neighbourhood development, capacity development relating to human settlements and strengthening community-based organizations, is indicative of her genuine passion to see people lead their own development. She holds a Bachelor of Social Science in Social Work obtained from the University of Cape Town in 1995.

I’m inspired by DAG’s approach to improving housing conditions and equipping communities to do the same

Esther Schippers is the Communications and Public Relations Intern for DAG. She works within the communications team, assisting in the creation and management of multimedia content for DAG’s various programmes. She is passionate about women’s issues and holds a BA (Law) degree from Stellenbosch University. Esther looks forward to collaborating with community role players and making contributions to the stories shared by the organisation.

DAG's innovative work on inclusive cities, the passion and dedication of the DAG team, and our dynamic community partners inspire me daily to work in service.

Helen is a Programme Director at the Development Action Group. Helen has over seventeen years of experience in the urban development sector. She is the current project lead for a National Programme on Land Value Capture in partnership with the National Treasury Cities Support Programme and Lincoln Institute of Land Policy geared to providing technical support and training to metros. Over the last five years Helen has worked in partnership with the City of Cape Town and local civics around neighbourhood regeneration and social housing in the inner city which has resulted in the delivery of the first transitional housing project in Cape Town. She has extensive expertise in informal settlement upgrading and regularisation, including the coordination of the NUSP socio-technical assistance to the City of Cape Town for 32 informal settlements and pioneered the Hangberg in situ upgrade in 2008.

Working for DAG has me experience working for a purpose and making a difference.

Helena works as the Accountant at DAG, taking responsibility for all the accounting functions and needs of the organisation. She has extensive experience working in the NPO Sector, having worked for Credit Union Cooperatives, the People’s Dialogue on Land and Shelter and Shackdwellers International in her time. She holds a Diploma in Management Accounting & Finance, as well as Accounting and Business economics subjects completed through UNISA. Helena enjoys working for DAG because as an organization it operates with integrity.  She believes that while her work is behind the scenes in finance, her role has purpose as she is contributing to DAG’s mission to empower and strengthen communities and to redress the imbalances created by the past.

I enjoy working for DAG because it’s an organisation that offers a wide variety of opportunities, ranging from building relationships with key decision-makers, to engaging and co-creating collaborative strategies with historically marginalised communities.

Kamogelo is a Project Coordinator at DAG. Her work primarily focuses on the Contractor and Developer Academy (CDA) and the Backyard Matters projects. Her role entails strengthening the capacity of emerging developers in the implementation and management of affordable rental housing. Kamo has a strong background in GIS (Geographical Information Systems) and studied City and Regional Planning at the University of Cape Town (UCT). She is passionate about thinking spatially about justice - not only from a theoretical point of view but also using practical knowledge to lead to effective actions and to achieve a more inclusive city.

DAG mediates between citizens and the state, helping them co-create solutions and chart a path forward together.

Kathryn Byrnes is a Project Officer at DAG. Her work focuses on monitoring, evaluation, and learning. She captures the impact of DAG's programmes and projects for monitoring, learning, communications, and funding purposes. Kath has a particular interest in the intricate, inventive, and radically just home-making practices being cultivated within the urban periphery. She holds a BSc (Hons) in Environmental and Geographic Sciences, English Language and Literature and Ocean and Atmosphere Science, and a master's degree in environmental and Geographic Sciences from the University of Cape Town, with a focus on housing access and housing innovations of the urban poor and working class. She hopes to be a part of building more caring and connected African cities through her work at DAG.

DAG’s “people-centred approach” is what drives me on a daily basis. This links to the alignment of DAG’s collaborative and participatory approaches with my personal values and that of my colleagues.

Kathy has been the Executive Director at DAG since September 2021. She previously held the Operations Director position and her major role in DAG over the past 18 years has been ensuring systems support changes in organisational strategies to adequately respond to the ever-changing external conditions in the urban development sector. She has worked in the Non-profit sector throughout her working career and is passionate about making a difference in society both personally and professionally. Kathy’s dedication to social justice and meaningful transformation stems from a long history of community activism.

Umuntu ngu muntu ngabantu - I am because we are. DAG's values and approach to development allow me to live out this motto. 

Kundai is the Communication Officer at DAG. She is a seasoned communications practitioner with over 10 years of experience working in the NGO sector. She studied Communication Science and Communications and Journalism. Kundai is passionate about community development and sharing community stories. She uses her skills in media and communications to amplify the voice of the community and highlight the impact that people are making in their communities. Kundai is also passionate about women's and young people’s rights, participation and inclusion in all development processes. She is currently studying towards her PGDipMan in marketing at the University of Cape Town (UCT).

Working at DAG has exposed me to the harsh realities on the ground and has made me rethink and realise the importance of my role as a built environment professional in creating a country that is spatially just.

Lindokuhle is an Architectural intern for DAG. His work mainly focuses on providing architectural support to the Contractor and Developer Academy (CDA) and Backyard Matters teams. He recently completed his undergraduate studies in Architectural Technology from the Cape Peninsula University of  Technology (CPUT). He is interested in helping create cities and neighbourhoods that are integrated and inclusive. Working for an organisation that addresses the continuous impact of the apartheid regime has been educational as much as it has been exciting, and he looks forward to making a remarkable contribution to the organisation.

Working for DAG empowers me to make an impact in the communities I work and live in.

Lorenzo is a Project Officer at DAG, who has been working with communities in the Woodstock Salt River area for over 2 years. His work as an organizer involves brokering of relationships and community facilitation, amongst other things. He has over 3 years of experience working in the improvement district industry. Lorenzo enjoys working for DAG because the organisation is passionate about supporting disempowered communities. He enjoys his role at DAG because it gives him the opportunity to do what he is passionate about and that is working in the inner city and disadvantaged communities.

DAG is not just a workplace. It’s a home away from home because of its conducive working environment, with brilliant minds in the organisation that are guided DAG’s principles.

Ludwe is a Project Officer at DAG, working on the Asivikelane and Socio-Technical Support project. His role entails being on the ground and working with communities, where his main areas of interest are socio-economic rights, spatial justice, housing development and informal settlement upgrading. Ludwe holds a Masters degree in City and Regional Planning and is a 2021 Golden Key member from the University of Cape Town. He started working at DAG as an Intern in 2021,  and is now a Project Support Officer. He loves the work that he  does because he feels that DAG is working towards creating a just city for all through various programmes ranging from building relationships with key decision makers to engaging and co-creating collaborative strategies with marginalised communities.

There is lots of room for growth at DAG, both professionally and personally.

Nosive is a Project Officer at DAG. She joined the organisation in 2021 as an Informal Settlement Support Programme (ISSP) Intern. She later joined the CDA and Backyarders Matters team where she now provides project support. Nosive holds an Honours degree in City Planning from the University of Cape Town. She is an advocate for inclusive cities and people-centred development, with particular interest on the marginalized women and children. Nosive envisions cities where women and children feel safe and comfortable to travel, work, and play. Since joining DAG, Nosive has grown enormously as a young built environment professional.

Ntombi is a General Assistant at DAG. She is responsible for maintaining our office space, welcoming guests, managing logistics and ensuring that meetings run smoothly. Outside of DAG you will find her in Gym, playing Netball and attending community meetings.

Maya Angelou said, “If you don’t like something change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.” I cannot imagine living in a world like ours and not do anything to try and change it for the better. This is one of the reasons why I value the work we do at DAG. We are pooling our collective efforts to build a better tomorrow for everyone.

Querida is a Researcher at DAG, where she researches urban land reform and other pertinent issues. She is skilled in quantitative and qualitative research, policy analysis, and project impact evaluations. Querida has worked as a researcher at various institutions where she tracked the political, security, socio-economic, infrastructure and retail developments across various African countries. She is passionate about development and has always had a keen interest in a wide range of issues, including but not limited to socio-economic rights, poverty alleviation, inequality, development, gender and civil and political rights. Querida holds a Masters degree in Political Science from Stellenbosch University, and is excited to be working for an organisation that has a rich history and ground-breaking work on urban development and urban land reform.

I feel that DAG is an important role-player in the realisation of citizens’ constitutional rights to access land and housing opportunities.

Ryan is a Project Coordinator at the DAG, focusing mainly on projects in Woodstock, Salt River and Mitchells Plain. His work involves leading projects for international donors with the objective of addressing spatial inequalities by helping marginalised communities access land and affordable housing opportunities. Working with grassroots organisations, the government, and the private sector, he believes in a collaborative approach to neighborhood development that places people at the center of their own development. Ryan holds a Master’s degree in City and Regional Planning from the University of Cape Town, where he is also a guest lecturer and external examiner. He is a 2019 fellow of the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders.

DAG is all about developing for the better - not just developing our cities, but also developing oneself - to help build a better society.

Sharon is an intern at DAG and assists with ​socio-technical support to community-based organisations. She is passionate about placemaking and creating gender equal environments for women and girls. She is a graduate from City Planning (Hons) at University of Cape Town and has a background in architecture. Her previous work experience includes volunteering at the PHA Food and Farming Campaign, where she helped to conceptualise designs of farmlands along the urban edge for subsistence farming to prevent urban encroachment. She enjoys working at DAG because the organisation is value driven and attends to what the communities have to say. This allows her to develop her skills while putting people first.

Making a positive contribution to the urban policy making processes and the overall development practice in our society is a cause that I am most passionate about and one of the reasons why I enjoy working at DAG.

Willard is a researcher at DAG. He is an urban land specialist with extensive experience and understanding of spatial planning, informal settlement upgrading, urban land use management, and land-based financing to support local government programs and processes. Willard is also the project leader of a program on Land Value Capture. He draws on his interdisciplinary background and experience to tackle tough challenges that cities and communities face, from resource scarcity and infrastructure pressures to the impact of land use development practice on society. Willard holds a Master’s degree in Spatial Planning from University of Aberdeen (UK) and is also pursuing PhD studies with the School of Economics and Management Sciences at the University of Pretoria. He thoroughly enjoys working in highly dynamic and creative environments and is excited to be part of an organisation that is making positive impact on marginalised and dispossessed communities.

Working for DAG makes me feel like I am upholding the constitutional mandate of bettering the lives of previously disempowered citizens.

Zama is a Programme Manager at DAG. Having joined DAG in 2005, Zama has been involved in numerous DAG projects including informal settlement upgrading projects, ePHP projects and swathes of research projects. Currently, he leads DAG’s programmatic area called the Contractor and Developer Academy (CDA), which seeks to capacitate and mentor emerging contractors and micro developers. As the leader of CDA, Zama has extensive experience liaising with government representatives from different spheres of government, micro finance institutions operating in the affordable rental space, and a range of other stakeholders including development forums, social movements and community-based organisations. He is an expert facilitator and is invested in building the capacity of citizens to activate their own change. Zama holds an Honours degree in Public Administration from the University of Western Cape (UWC) as well as a Diploma in Urban Land Management and Informal Settlement Regularisation from Erasmus University Rotterdam, Netherlands. He also has a certificate in Housing Policy Development and Management with Wits University and a certificate in Housing Finance Course for Sub-Saharan Africa with UCT Graduate School of Business.

I love working at DAG because of the organisation's vision and mission, which focuses on supporting and implementing community housing projects and development while also building people's skills.

Zinzi is the Administrator at DAG. She is responsible for providing office and administrative support to the DAG team in order to enable effective running of the organisation. Her role is instrumental in the organisation of workshops, logistics, and the day-to-day operations of the organisation. Zinzi assists with a variety of projects and office activities. She is a loving and caring person who places high value on work and family, and cares deeply about community development.

I am passionate about community organising and DAG gives me the platform to do what I love. Organising is in my blood, and it runs through my veins. Working as an organiser is hard because you must be the eyes and ears of the communities you work with.

Zukiswa is a Project Officer at DAG working on the Asivikelane Cape Town project. Her role entails working closely with Cape Town informal settlement communities. Zukiswa’s main area of work focuses on mobilizing informal settlement residents to participate in monitoring and reporting the maintenance and provision of basic services in their communities. Her duties include, organising and recruiting settlement residents to join the Asivikelane campaign so that they can take ownership and contribute towards the improvement of service delivery in their underprivileged communities. This is done through collecting service delivery information and logging it on the city’s fault reporting system. She enjoys working at DAG because the organisation gives her the capacity, platform, and weapons to challenge all spheres of government. Zukiswa also says, DAG makes her feel at home because the team value teamwork and support each other.