Richard Dobson, an architect by training, worked for over ten years for the eThekwini Municipality as a project leader, first of the Warwick Junction Urban Renewal Project and then for the inner city renewal programme. He left the city in 2006 to co-found Asiye eTafuleni and focus on offering design and facilitation services to those working in the informal economy. His professional technical, design and project work has been recognized through various local, national and international awards and citations and he is a recipient of the 2014 Diakonia Human Rights Award for advancing the rights of informal workers.
Patric Ndlovu’s 30-year career working with informal workers began during his first career as a Metro Police Officer – enforcing bylaws against informal traders. He later worked as an Area Manager for the eThekwini municipality, providing administration, dispute resolution and social facilitation for traders. He left the city in 2006 to co-found Asiye eTafuleni and focus on offering community development and social facilitation services to the informal economy. Patric’s skill and experience with social facilitation and informal workers have been recognized globally, and is currently a director on WIEGOs Board.
Joanne Lees has 25 years’ experience as an architect, urbanist, and public housing specialist, grappling with a broad array of issues related to inclusive and integrated sustainable development and spatial transformation. In the process she has sometimes strayed away from architecture altogether. Jo has been an associate of Asiye eTafuleni’s (AeT) for many years. She worked with the founders of AeT when they were still at the eThekwini Municipality, and has periodically worked with AeT since their inception. She has been working more actively as part the AeT team since 2019.
Chantal Froneman has worked in and around urban issues for more than 25 years in her work with the eThekwini Municipality and later as Asiye eTafuleni’s (AeT) Administrator. Chantal first worked in eThekwini’s City Police and City Health departments. She became involved with issues around urban informality and informal work through her later work on the City’s iTRUMP program, in Warwick Junction. Chantal has been a core team member at AeT from its start in 2008.
Lihle Nyawo is an informal trader in Warwick Junction. Her association with Asiye eTafuleni (AeT) began in 2016 as a Markets of Warwick tour guide, and later as an intern. Lihle is currently AeT’s Childcare Project Officer.
Toe Shozi was a trader at the Bead Market. She began working as a tour guide for Markets of Warwick in 2010. After interning in 2013 for 2 years, she is now a part of the team working as the Junior Field Officer and Research Assistant. Toe is constantly speaking to, and interviewing traders and commuters within the market.
Board Members
- Ntombiziningi Ntshangase (Chairperson)
- Glen Robbins
- Caroline Skinner
- Adheema Davis
- Phumelele Mkhize
- Richard Dobson
- Patric Ndlovu