Directors

Olmo von Meijenfeldt

Executive Director - ex officio

Olmo von Meijenfeldt, DWF’s Founding Executive Director, continues to serve as a board member in an executive role. He spearheaded the organisation’s establishment, securing seed funding and guiding its growth with the support of the DWF team. His passions include international solidarity, the African Renaissance, and addressing non-profit financial sustainability while ensuring DWF’s relevance in democracy development.

With nearly 30 years of experience, Olmo has overseen the investment of half a billion Rand in governance, democracy, and human rights initiatives in South Africa and the region. He has also fostered DWF’s growth as a diverse, multi-national African team, emphasizing gender balance and women’s leadership.

Democracy building is and must be an ongoing process, whether in South Africa or the EU. It is never ‘finished’, as older democracies show. Investing in democracy takes time, vision and long-term commitment. The returns don't necessarily show overnight, perhaps not even in our lifetime. It is a political development process that should involve all sectors of society.

Nerine Kahn

Acting Chairperson

Nerine is a former Director of the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation, and Arbitration (CCMA) and a qualified attorney with a BA, LLB, and an Advanced Diploma in Labour Law. She specialised in labour law during six years of legal practice before joining the CCMA, where she served as a commissioner and senior commissioner for six years.

At the CCMA, she played a key role in arbitrating, mediating, and conciliating disputes, developing the CCMA screening process, training commissioners, and pioneering dispute management training for trade unions and employers. As Chief Director for Labour Relations in the Department of Labour, she oversaw the Labour Relations Act, Basic Conditions of Employment Act, and Employment Equity Act, also serving as the government representative on the CCMA Governing Body.

Sandra Mutyambizi

Director of Finance and Operations - ex officio

Sandra Mutyambizi – ex-officio. Sandra Mutyambizi, DWF’s Director of Finance and Operations, joined the board in an executive role after rising through the ranks since 2018. A seasoned finance professional with over 20 years of experience, she has managed complex financial operations and implemented robust financial policies and controls.

Sandra has successfully led audits and compliance exercises with international donors like USAID and the EU. Her expertise in budgeting, forecasting, and financial reporting has ensured sound financial management at Democracy Works Foundation and the Southern Africa Trust. She also has a strong background in operational management, overseeing human resources and contributing to strategic planning. Sandra holds a Postgraduate Certificate in International Accounting and Finance from the University of Liverpool and leverages her financial and operational expertise to ensure organisational success.

Lesley Donna Williams

Lesley Donna Williams – non-executive. Lesley Donna Williams is an international process facilitator specialising in dialogue moderation, innovation, leadership development, and large-group processes. She founded Africa’s first Impact Hub to promote social innovation and served as the founding CEO of Wits University’s Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct, fostering African digital entrepreneurs.

Her work has earned prestigious accolades, including the Chevalier de l’Ordre national du Mérite from the French President for fostering France-South Africa cultural partnerships, the Inspiring Fifty award for women in STEM, and recognition as a Mail & Guardian Top 200 young South African. She is also an Aspen Ideas Fellow and a BP Antarctica expedition leader in climate change. Lesley serves on boards such as the Innovation Foundation for Democracy, Power Grids Education Trust, and Hitachi Energy South Africa.

Tefo Raditapole

Tefo Raditapole – non-executive. Tefo Raditapole chairs the board of Cheadle Thompson and Haysom, where he began his legal career in 1990. He holds a BA (Law) from the National University of Lesotho and an LLB from Wits University. Before 1994, he acted extensively for the African National Congress and the Congress of South African Trade Unions.

A professional conflict manager and trainer, Tefo has consulted for organisations such as the International Labour Organisation, International IDEA, South Africa's Independent Electoral Commission, and the Electoral Institute of Southern Africa. He served as a special advisor to Gauteng Premiers (1999–2009) and on the Gautrain Political Committee, as well as a Commissioner for Employment Equity and part-time CCMA Commissioner.

Tefo chairs the boards of the Credit Ombudsman and the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation and is an internationally accredited commercial mediator with the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR).

Ambassador Ron Nkomba

Chairperson of DWF Malawi

Ambassador Ron Nkomba (Rtd), became the first Malawian Clerk to the Cabinet in August, 1969. He transferred to the Ministry of External Affairs in 1972 where, in 1975, he was appointed as Malawi’s Chief of Protocol. Ambassador Nkomba was, in December 1978, appointed Malawi’s High Commissioner to the Republic of Kenya. He returned to Malawi in August, 1981 to serve as Permanent Secretary in the Ministries of Local Government, Transport and Communications, and of Health. From 1985 to 1990, Ambassador Nkomba served as Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs.

Ambassador Nkomba was, in December 1991, appointed Malawi Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany, with non-resident Accreditation to Austria, the Kingdom of Denmark, Switzerland, and the Vatican (Holy See). He returned to Malawi in March, 1995 and was in September, 1996 appointed Chairman of the Working Committee which established Malawi’s second Public University – the Mzuzu University. From 2006 t0 2007 Ambassador Nkomba was a Commissioner in the Special Law Commission on the Review of the Malawi Constitution.

From January, 2008 to January, 2012 Ambassador Nkomba served as an Electoral Commissioner of the Malawi Electoral Commission. Currently, Ambassador Ron Nkomba is involved in the establishment of the National Peace Architecture (NPA) which will culminate in the launching of the Malawi Peace Commission. (MPC).

Ambassador Roosevelt Gondwe

Roosevelt Gondwe is a Malawian lawyer with extensive experience in capacity building and facilitation. He has worked largely with Members of Parliament and Parliamentary Staff focusing on governance and democracy for Parliament and reputable management institutions in the Southern Africa region, namely the Malawi Institute of Management, and the Eastern and Southern African Management Institute.

Until 2015, he served in various public service capacities namely as Clerk of the Parliament of Malawi responsible for advising the Speaker and House on parliamentary law and practice and administering the House and staff under the direction of the Speaker; as Chief Elections Officer (1994-1999 and 2004) at the Malawi Electoral Commission responsible for administering the electoral cycle within the electoral laws and practices of Malawi; and  as Ambassador for Malawi in Japan, responsible for representing Malawi in its diplomatic relations  and negotiations with Japan and other countries of accreditation between 2005 and 2010. He currently consults on legislative strengthening.

I believe the quality of democracy is enhanced when it delivers between elections.

Busi Dlamini

Founding Board Member

Busi Dlamini is a Founding Director of DWF. She is an independent consultant specialising in facilitation and training services. A former director of Dignity International, Dlamini now works closely with social innovators and has led ground-breaking research into complex social issues using systems thinking methodology.

Busi has extensive experience in Public and Corporate Affairs, Human Resources, Social Development, Business Processes re-design, culture transformation, and legislated transformation projects management within the Minerals Exploration and Mining, and Energy/Electricity industries, and in Finance and Public institutions.

Busi's knowledge and working experience include the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act and its Mining Charter, Local Government Municipal Systems Act, BBBEE Act and other related legislation; and international standards such as IFC Performance Standards, Equator Principles, International Labour Organisation (ILO), OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, the UN Global Compact and the SA King III and Global Reporting initiatives

William Gumede

Founding Chairperson

William Gumede is Associate Professor, School of Governance at the University of the Witwatersrand. He is Executive Chairperson of Democracy Works Foundation and former Deputy Editor of The Sowetan newspaper.

During the anti-apartheid struggle, Gumede held several leadership positions in South African student, civics and trade union movements. He was a political violence mediator and area coordinator for the National Peace Committee during the multiparty negotiations for a democratic South Africa and was seconded to South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission. He is the author of several number 1 bestsellers. His more recent books include: Restless Nation: Making Sense of Troubled Times (Tafelberg); and South Africa in BRICS – Salvation or Ruination (Tafelberg).

To read publications by William Gumede on our website please click here.

Democracy in developing and African countries is unlikely to be sustainable without the democratisation of their markets and the economies either. In fact the sustainability of democracy in developing countries will depend on governments democratising both the state and the market.