Our Community

The Board

Cecil Plaatjies – Chairperson

Cecil Plaatjies, is an educator, originally trained as a high school teacher. He is also a workplace coach and private tutor.

He is a Nichiren Buddhist and a member of the Soka Gakkai International. He is also a member of The Theosophical Society.

His focus is spiritual practice on the grassroots level and the application of spiritual practices as personal and collective transformation tools.

Sarah Oliver – Treasurer

Sarah, CTII Treasurer, is a facilitator, interfaith practitioner and peace advocate. She has grown up in the CTII community and been part of the Board since 2013.

Sarah works as the Global Learning and Action Coordinator for the United Religions Initiative (URI). She is passionate about designing inclusive group processes that foster collaboration across differences, center marginalized experiences and cultivate joy and creativity for collective healing.

Blessing Dipumbe

As a member of the Interfaith Intercultural Programme board, I’m driven by my own experience as a refugee to create meaningful change. I’m passionate about fostering understanding and empathy among diverse communities. Through this role, I aim to help build bridges and cultivate a more inclusive, compassionate society for all.

Zahra Jobe

Zahra (also known as “Zee”) began her journey as a learner in the CTII youth program. Guided by Pippa Jones, she was inspired to engage with diverse cultures, religions, and races. After completing the program, Zahra was offered the role of Facilitator. Her continued dedication to the CTII community led to her joining the CTII board.

Veliswa Ntsume

Velie Ntsume

Veliswa Ntsume, known as Velie is a local Pentecostal pastor, interfaith ambassador, and Master’s candidate in Theology at Stellenbosch University.

Her research and practice explore how interfaith dialogue can support critical educational transitions, especially from Grade 6 to early Tertiary life. She is motivated by her own background to view justice, peace, and education as a sustainable development goal.

For her, the interfaith space not just as a departure from religious conviction, but as more of a generative and hospitable ground beyond religious boundaries, safe, relational, and non-restrictive – where differences are acknowledged and held with dignity, relationships are nurtured, and individuals are enabled to become more effective and impactful as human beings.

Schools Program

Pippa Jones – Director, Schools Program

Rev. Pippa Jones is a teacher by profession and since 2012 has also served as an ordained Interfaith minister in New York, Sydney and now Cape Town. Her passions are working with young people, as well as being involved in post-colonial and restorative justice work and research.

Ana van Straten

Ana van Straten is a freelance PA from Cape Town who is passionate about interfaith dialogue and has worked with CTII’s youth programme and as volunteer for the Cape Town Unitarians.

Golden Mwarura

Golden Mwarura is a young person seeking purpose and growth. He is eager to learn and embrace transformative life experiences. A committed advocate for change and equality, he values togetherness, selflessness, and the power of love and compassion toward others.

Associates

Nic Paton

Nic Paton is a musical composer and interspiritual activist. His early background was in the charismatic evangelical church, and thereafter liberation theology and movements.

Babalwa Ngcongolo

Babalwa Ngcongolo is a South African educator, facilitator, and peacebuilder working at the intersection of interfaith dialogue, cultural justice, and youth leadership

Aydin Inal

Aydin Inal was born in Turkey and was trained as Science Educator before moving to South Africa. He was involved in education in various capacities from starting schools to teaching and managing schools.

He has been involved in the fields of Interfaith Dialogue in various degrees since early 2000s. He serves as educational advisor and as regional director of Turquoise Harmony Institute in Cape Town. He holds a MEd and PhD in Education.

Jenny Canau

Jenny Canau practised and lectured in International Human rights Law. After meeting His Holiness the Dalai Lama in 1996, she shifted focus to “Inner development” and Co-founded Mindfulness Africa with Rob Nairn.

Laurie Gaum

Laurie Gaum is trained as a Dutch Reformed minister of religion. He defines himself as ecumenical, as a spiritual activist, and an artist at heart. He works with the nonprofit Genderworks facilitating workshops in gender & sexuality, & loves the diversity that the CTII embodies.

Theo Mayekiso

Theo Mayekiso is a social and spiritual interventionist, author, and MTh candidate with a research focus on early childhood education through the lenses of Biblical and African theology. With a background in facilitation and community-based education, Theo brings a passion for justice, dialogue, and faith-rooted development. He is committed to nurturing inclusive spiritual spaces that honour both interfaith understanding and indigenous African values.

Interns

Whitney Hedlund

Whitney Hedlund, interning with the CTII, holds B.A.s in French and international relations as well as a certificate in human needs and global resources from Wheaton College in the United States. Whitney is currently pursuing her masters degree in International Peace Studies at the University of Notre Dame in the United States. Her research has focused on Palestine, settler colonialism, and black and brown liberation.