History

Zimele Wethu, is a registered non-profit company, (Registration Number:  2015/332172/08) incorporated under the Republic of South Africa company act, 1973 (Act 61 of 1973). Zimele Wethu is also a registered non-profit organisation (Registration Number: 171-632 NPO) and has a public benefit organisation status with the South African Revenue Authorities (number: 930053612).  

Zimele Wethu Foundation was founded on 10 September 2015 by Dr Audrey Mukwavi Matimelo and Mr. Xolani Ernest Zondi who had served together in the public sector empowering rural women in KwaZulu Natal, 8 years and 5 years respectively at this point.

The founder Directors of Zimele Wethu, having been impacted by poverty in their lives were compelled with a passion to see a transforming movement of hope among the poor people.

Dr Audrey Matimelo’s passion is to see people in rural and township communities engaging with their tangible and intangible assets for social and economic development, and becoming actors of their own development and not perpetual clients of handouts from NGOs and government. “I want to see women, youth and men in rural and township communities building networks to enable them start and manage economic and social ventures.”

Dr Audrey Matimelo a Zambian by nationality, came to South Africa in 2002 to study community development because of her passion to work with poor and vulnerable people. She developed this passion because of her vulnerable childhood background and her involvement with her husband’s Pastoral work in Zambia where they led a less privileged church, in a needy community.

Dr Audrey Matimelo is the first born in a family of nine children. She was orphaned at 19 years, when her father died first then a few years after, her mother died too. Being the eldest child, she was left with a sole responsibility to manage the little income they were earning from a family house that her parents had put on rent as a means of survival. Dr Audrey Matimelo was the only child in the family at this time, who had completed high school education. She completed her high school education with flying colours and was accepted to study at University. She could not pursue tertiary education because of lack of financial resources and also the huge burden to head the household with 8 siblings was overwhelming for her.

Dr Audrey Matimelo then took-up jobs with Commercial banks where she worked for 10 years, first as a Clerk and later promoted to the role of Bank Supervisor. Dr Audrey Matimelo used her earnings from this job to supplement her sibling’s needs and also improve herself through part-time studies in Accounts. She saw herself grow in her work experience in the bank, however, her involvement with her husband’s work in the Church deepened her passion to engage in work that would address issues of poverty, vulnerability and empowering vulnerable people for a better life.

In 2001, Dr Audrey Matimelo got the opportunity to study community development. This led to her resigning her job in the bank to pursue studies in the United kingdom and later in South Africa. Dr Audrey Matimelo is now a qualified and experienced Community Development Practitioner. She has work experience of 13 years in the field of community development. She has successfully completed her PhD in the school of Science and Agriculture, Rural Resource Management and awarded a Doctorate Degree from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Her thesis was on mobilizing rural assets for women empowerment. Her study explores various forms of poverty and focuses mainly on the Self Help Group concept and its impact among poor women of KwaZulu Natal, South Africa.

Mr Xolani Zondi’s passion is generating meaningful connections, healthy relationships, and supporting the realization of each individual’s purpose in life through the creation of significant goals and results.