Governance
Our Board
AFRA’s Board provides governance, stewardship and strategic oversight in support of the organisation’s mission and long-term sustainability.
Stewardship grounded in AFRA’s purpose and values.
Shirin Motala
Chairperson
Shirin Motala serves as the Chairperson of the AFRA Board, contributing more than 30 years of dedicated civic leadership and strategic governance to the organisation. Professionally, she is the Director of Research Impact in the Equitable Education and Economies division at the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC). With a Master’s in Development Studies and 40 years of expertise across social protection, human rights advocacy, and active labour market programmes tackling inequality and poverty, Shirin actively leverages her research and policy insight to advance AFRA’s mission of rural justice and community empowerment.
Matthew Black
Treasurer
Matthew Black is a Director at Colenbrander Incorporated and is a Chartered Accountant (SAICA) and Registered Auditor (IRBA). With over 20 years of experience in accounting and auditing, he has developed extensive expertise in financial governance and assurance. For the past 10 years, Matthew has worked closely with non-profit organisations, providing audit and advisory services that support strong governance, accountability, and sustainable growth.
Msizeni Magwaza
Board Member
Msizeni Magwaza is a Land Rights Activist who has been active since the late 1980s, working to oppose forced removals and farm oppression. He has supported and mobilised labour tenants and farm dwellers to participate in Local Economic Development programmes, despite challenges within some municipalities.
Since 2005, Msizeni has been involved in the leadership of social movements, advocating for the rights, livelihoods and dignity of rural communities and farm dwellers.
Federico Settler
Board Member
Prof Federico Settler is the Dean and Head of the School of Social Sciences at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. He is a leading sociologist of religion from South Africa and his areas of specialization are race, migration and postcolonialism. He has published widely on the intersection of race and migration, and its entanglements with religion. He is the editor of a leading journal, Culture and Religion and has served as lead PI on several national and international research projects. Prof Settler has held prestigious fellowships at Harvard and Oxford Universities, and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. He previously served a Director of NADEL's Human Right Project, as well as the programme Director of UCT's International Human Rights Exchange. He has served on several NPO boards and worked a facilitator in the development and public sectors.
Zweli Henson Mchunu
Deputy Chairperson
Henson Zwelithini Mchunu grew up in the rural area of KwaQangqatho, under the Abaqulusi jurisdiction of Babanango. He has worked as a Sales Representative at Sanlam for many years. Henson serves as a Board Member of AFRA, where he contributes to board discussions, decision-making and the organisation’s work.
John Aitchison
Board Member
John Aitchison is a founder member of AFRA and of its Board since its inception. In the mid-1960s he had been active in exposing the forced removals of the so-called blackspots and was banned by the apartheid regime for ten years. After teaching in two theological colleges after his release he became Director of the Centre for Adult Education at the University of Natal and later a Senior Professor in the Faculty of Education. After his retirement he served as a Director of AFRA from October 2009 to June 2010.
Dan Moody
Board Member
Daniel Moody is a development practitioner, MERL specialist, researcher, and environmentalist dedicated to working on socio-economic, developmental, and environmental issues in the Global South. Daniel is particularly interested in issues around agricultural and rural development, with a keen interest in exploring sustainable agricultural and rural futures. Combining excellent academic credentials with a diversified work portfolio, he seeks to use his skills, knowledge, and passion to develop and implement socially oriented, sustainable, and evidence-based solutions to some of Africa’s major developmental challenges.
Mimi Abdool
Board Member
Rahimoonisha Abdool, aka Mimi is a retired Chief Financial Officer with experience on both private and public sectors within MNC, Government Departments and Legislature. Served on various Boards as Directors, Members and Chairpersons. Expertise in Strategy, Finance, Risk, Compliance and Corporate Governance, Turnaround Strategies, Project Management and ICT Implementation.