Who we are
Our trustees
Jerry’s career spanning thirty years is clear testimony of his dedication to nurture and develop people to realise their full potential. His leadership is felt in business, communities and academia in Africa having studied at universities and tertiary institutions in Botswana, Swaziland and South Africa as well as alumni of both the University of Pittsburgh, USA where he earned a Master of Education degree and at the University of Harvard, USA with a Master of Education and a Doctor of Education.
In Jerry’s dogged pursuit of knowledge for the betterment of organisations, he is an accredited Director and fellow member of the Institute of Directors. He is chief executive officer of The Institute of People Management, a business executive coach and founder of Gule Executive coaching. Jerry led the transformation agenda at Total SA in his capacity as General Manager HR, and he played a significant role driving transformation in the petroleum industry in South Africa.
Jerry serves and directs the South African Employers for Disability (SAE4D). Leader at Christ Church Midrand and both an advisor and confidante to the Rector and Bishop of REACH SA.
Martin’s lifelong commitment to social justice is lived out in his passion for education as a means to lift vulnerable and impoverished people out of poverty so they have a better life.
A former attorney, Martin is the founder of The Love Trust and Christ Church Midrand Preparatory School and College. He recently retired as Rector of Christ Church Midrand and currently pastors Christ Church Nokuphila, a church planted in 2023. He is a Bishop of REACH SA (Reformed Evangelical Anglican Church of South Africa) and serves on the Executive Committee. His endless energy to grow the Kingdom of God takes him into many communities across Africa in his work as Chairman of The Gospel Coalition Africa and the Africa Gospel Fund.
A qualified teacher and retired school principal, Ruth has vast experience in education and working in underprivileged communities. Ruth initiated Children at Risk – a programme that helps children from townships with extra lessons on Saturdays. Ruth has played a significant leadership role in The Love Trust since 2009 bringing wise and compassionate counsel.
Busisiwe is an accomplished accountant with extensive experience in financial, cost and management accounting.
Together with a BCom Accounting degree and post-graduate studies through CIMA in the United Kingdom, Busisiwe brings to The Love Trust a wealth of strategic finance management, and operational business knowledge and capabilities, gained both locally and globally.
Rhangani is a Chartered Accountant (SA) and Registered Auditor. He is currently studying MPhil in Development Finance at the University of Stellenbosch. He is the founder and Managing Director of Chapu Chartered Accountants Inc.
He has extensive experience in both the private and public sectors. Rhangani gained valuable private sector experience working for PwC as an auditor with exposure to corporate banking and financial management during his time with Absa Corporate Investment bank. He gained experience in the public sector during the time he spent with the Auditor-General of South Africa (AGSA), MNB Chartered Accountants and Chapu Chartered Accountants.
Rhangani is passionate about community development and upliftment of rural communities. He has been involved in a number of community projects that are aimed at improving the lives of disadvantaged people in rural communities. Rhangani contributes to the economy of the country by providing economic analysis on some key economic topics affecting the citizens through some major media houses (TV, Radio, Newspapers & Other written media).
Matseleng holds a BCom Human Resources degree with more than 15 years’ experience in the field. As a member of the executive team with the Gauteng Gambling Board, Matseleng manages the full remit of human resources practices and strategic advisory functions to the business. Matseleng was appointed as a Board Trustee in 2020 and serves on The Love Trust Academics Committee and brings astute insights into organisational performance.
Our operations management team
CEO
Erik holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree, and his professional career includes management roles in large organisations such as BCX, African Barrick Gold and De Beers. He has 26 years of project management experience and 24 years of this spent in a leadership role. He joined The Love Trust in 2012 and has exceptional operational and strategic management capabilities, proven operational effectiveness, and strong leadership experience in the not-for-profit sector. He was appointed to the CEO position on 01 January 2024.
Email: erik@lovetrust.co.za
Principal Nokuphila School
Mabel is an experienced educator. She holds an honours degree in education management and leadership obtained from the University of Johannesburg, on top of a further diploma in education, education management from the University of Pretoria.
Mabel has extensive teaching experience across the foundation, intermediate and senior primary levels, in subjects that include English, technology, economics and management sciences, as well as arts and culture, and the natural and social sciences. Mabel has chalked up more than six years’ school management experience gained at both Nokuphila School and at Radipabi Primary School.
We all know Mabel as a resilient, hard-working woman of character with a compassionate heart for vulnerable children.
Director of Academics
Silas leads our academic practice of Nokuphila Primary and Pre-Primary School, Nokuphila Teacher Training Academy and the affiliated teacher training centres around the country. He is a passionate educationist who’s been in the profession well over two decades and holds a Bachelor of Education degree and a Masters in Educational Management and Leadership from Wits University South Africa.
Head of Training and Facilitation
Michelle was instrumental in establishing Nokuphila Pre-Primary School from two small classes of four-year olds in 2010 to a fully-fledged benchmark early childhood development school serving the most vulnerable families in Thembisa. Michelle now heads up The Love Trust ECD teacher development curriculum at Nokuphila Teacher Training Academy and our affiliated teacher training centres. Her deep love for her work and her calling to serve others is an inspiration to children and adults alike.
Director of Fundraising
Charmaine Gola is the Director of Fundraising and holds a BA Communication Science degree and is currently reading for an Applied Digital Marketing Certificate.
Charmaine developed a strong sense of devotion for charitable work as a beneficiary of a primary school scholarship programme nearly 27 years ago. This resolve stuck with her through various industries including corporate financial services; retail corporate social investment, education and more recently in the non-profit sector in Stellenbosch, working on the development of women and children by addressing some of the South African wine industry social challenges; through education, nutrition and health programmes.
She believes, whole heartedly, in education as a force for good and in the role that we all can play in restoring community systems in South Africa and through the world.
Email: charmaineg@lovetrust.co.za
Teacher Training governance and administration
Felicity is responsible for managing our relationships with our seven national teacher training centres. In partnership with our SAQA accreditation partner Teachers Learning Centre and our own Nokuphila Teacher Training Academy team, she ensures quality education standards and due diligence is upheld.
Felicity’s ambition is for The Love Trust to have at least one teacher training centre in each province as she believes that early childhood development teachers have the biggest influence on a child’s holistic and lifelong development.
Felicity holds a BA in psychology and communication.
Western Cape Regional Director
Andrew is an ordained pastor and Rector at Trinity Church, Mitchells Plain, as well as Rector of both St Paul’s Church in Lavender Hill, and St Luke’s in Mitchells Plain. The three churches work together in a partnership which is affectionately called, Reach the Flats.
Andrew is no stranger to education. He co-founded Trinity Children’s Centre, which is modelled on Nokuphila School, and he continues to serve as a board member. He is also assisting St Luke’s with the registration of Grace Café, an online learning hub for high schoolers.
Andrew speaks of his passions as holistic concern for vulnerable children, expository preaching and making disciples. He also enjoys mountain biking, bird watching and spending time with his family.