About Asihwebe

Building Pathways to Opportunity

Asihwebe Foundation is a South African non-profit organisation focused on enterprise development, digital enablement, skills development and community activation.

Our role

Turning opportunity into practical action

Our work is centred on creating practical pathways for entrepreneurs, small businesses and underserved communities to participate more meaningfully in the economy.

We work through programmes, partnerships, capacity building and digital enablement to connect people with knowledge, tools, markets, institutions and opportunities.

Our collaborative approach brings together government, corporates, development agencies, financial institutions, chambers, skills organisations and community partners.

Our approach

Connect. Enable. Activate. Grow.

Each stage strengthens the next, creating a practical journey from connection to sustainable participation.

01
Connect
Connecting people, entrepreneurs and communities with institutions, markets, resources and opportunities.
02
Enable
Providing practical business, digital and entrepreneurial capabilities that help people participate more effectively in the economy.
03
Activate
Turning partnerships, programmes and ideas into practical action within communities.
04
Grow
Creating pathways towards sustainable enterprise growth, market participation and long-term economic inclusion.

Leadership

Executive Team

Approved titles, role purposes and focus areas for Asihwebe’s executive directors. Photographs can be added once approved.

Deon Ncwane

Executive Director: Enterprise Development & Community Activation

Role purpose: Leads enterprise development initiatives, township and rural activations, entrepreneur support programmes, innovation, technology-enabled initiatives and community mobilisation efforts that advance township and rural economic development.

Key focus areas

Enterprise development
Community activation
SME and informal trader empowerment
Grassroots engagement
Local economic participation
Digital enterprise and business innovation
Technology solutions and SME digitisation
AI and automation

Anita Tsimane

Executive Director: Community Programmes & Stakeholder Relations

Role purpose: Oversees community development programmes, stakeholder engagement and social impact initiatives that support township and rural empowerment.

Key focus areas

Community programmes
Stakeholder engagement
Youth and women empowerment
Public relations and partnerships
Social impact initiatives

Sthembiso Langa

Executive Director: Strategy, Digital Transformation & Ecosystem Development

Role purpose: Leads the strategic direction, ecosystem partnerships, digital transformation initiatives and organisational growth of Asihwebe Foundation.

Key focus areas

Strategic partnerships
Ecosystem development
Digital transformation
Fundraising and sponsorships
Innovation and stakeholder engagement

Elroy Shilling

Executive Director: Operations, Systems & Programme Delivery

Role purpose: Oversees operational systems, programme implementation coordination, monitoring and evaluation, and organisational support functions.

Key focus areas

Programme delivery
Operations management
Monitoring and evaluation
Organisational systems
Reporting and coordination

Governance & institutional credibility

Building for accountable, sustainable growth

Asihwebe is committed to strengthening governance, accountability and institutional sustainability as its programmes and partnerships grow.

Governance

Financial stewardship

Accountability

Programme monitoring

Partnership integrity

Long-term sustainability

Future board and independent profiles

This area is reserved for approved board, independent non-executive director and advisory profiles. No appointments or credentials are implied until formally supplied.

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