Catalysing local changemaking
The CoLab connects communities, enterprises, governments and partners using innovative place-based development approaches towards resilient, inclusive local economies in South Africa
THE COLAB APPROACH
The CoLab builds on experience such as the Makers Valley Partnership in inner-city Johannesburg, the ‘partnering for impact’ work of the Economic Development Partnership including the founding of the South African Towns Action Network and Energy & Climate Programme, and sustainable energy work within and in collaboration with municipalities across the continent. The CoLab combines four methods, each with its own tools: partnership brokering, inclusive economies, government institutionalisation, and iterative, place-based solutions.
Long-term, iterative, place-based interventions
Establish local CoLab Chapters as backbone organisations that live and work in place, building trust, mapping changemakers, and grounding interventions through immersion, action research and the creative arts. These Chapters coordinate local actors, align resources, and steward partnerships for systemic impact. Essential here is alignment between physical and socioeconomic interventions.
Partnership brokering
Convene municipalities, corporates, donors, worker groups, and civil society in collaborative, action-oriented platforms. Drawing on the Partnering Implementation Model, we emphasise clarity of roles, transparency, and iterative learning, while also shifting “stuck” narratives through storytelling and changemaker festivals. We build trust and mutual accountability, particularly between communities and local government.
Inclusive economies through enterprise incubation and diversification
Equip SMMEs and changemakers with diagnostics, coaching, market linkages, and blended finance. Through open calls, incubation, staged microgrants, and community-based microloans, we enable people with drive but limited resources to build livelihoods. This is critical to South Africa’s just transition, where decarbonisation and electricity reform risk deepening inequality unless new, inclusive enterprises are created.
Government institutionalisation
Support institutionalisation within local government, aligning Integrated Development Plans and spatial development frameworks with economic development policy and programming. We also generate briefs, case studies, and playbooks that translate local practice into broader change, bearing in mind contextual differences.
EASY-LISTENING INTRO
Listen to this AI-generated 6-minute podcast to easily get a sense of what The CoLab does and why.
THE TEAM
We exist as an associates platform, drawing on a network of practitioners, researchers, and creatives with diverse expertise. During this start-up phase, new associates and organisational affiliates join regularly.
Dr Simon Sizwe Mayson
The CoLab Executive Director
Urban planner and impact broker. Founder of the Makers Valley Partnership, with prior energy & climate leadership at the Economic Development Partnership and ICLEI Africa. Holds a PhD in Urban Planning (Wits) on how local changemakers and entrepreneurs can enable wellbeing economies (read here, if you dare!).
Yuri Olifant
The CoLab Connector
Urban planner with experience in township economies, community development and precinct management. Brings strong communication, stakeholder engagement and spatial planning skills to help represent The CoLab, build relationships and support organisational growth.
Masechaba Mabilu
CoLab Associate
Business leader and specialist in sustainability, social investment strategies, and Social Return on Investment (SROI). Trustee on multiple renewable energy community trusts. Experienced in aligning corporate resources with social value creation.
Neo Hutiri
CoLab Associate
Engineer and award-winning social entrepreneur. Creator of Pelebox smart lockers, enabling patients to collect chronic medication in minutes instead of hours. Recognised globally for healthcare innovation, with support from SAB Foundation and Google’s Black Founders Fund.
Petrus van Niekerk
CoLab Associate
Behavioural and development economist focused on cooperation, public goods, and inequality. Senior Lecturer at UCT and NatCap Collaborative Coordinator. His work has informed South African health and social policy, including COVID-19 vaccination strategies.
Dr Lindokuhle Njozela
CoLab Associate
Business leader and specialist in sustainability, social investment strategies, and Social Return on Investment (SROI). Trustee on multiple renewable energy community trusts. Experienced in aligning corporate resources with social value creation.
Peta Wolpe
CoLab Associate
Urban energy & climate change practitioner with 18+ years’ experience. Managing Director of Sustainable Energy Africa, she now leads Tournesol, deploying coaching, strategy and collaborative project work to help drive change. Her focus includes guiding gender-inclusive decision making in the Just Transition and facilitating participatory climate and energy dialogues across municipalities and communities.
Dr Calumet Links
CoLab Associate
Economist and lecturer at Stellenbosch University whose research explores historical and indigenous economies, inequality and labour markets. His work informs present-day debates on inclusive development and equitable economic policy.
Katlego Dikobe
CoLab Associate
Area-based management specialist and General Manager of the Gauteng Precinct Management Association. A registered town planner, Katlego combines technical rigour with a commitment to spatial justice, driving inclusive, functional and economically vibrant urban futures.
Thula Zondi
CoLab Associate
Communications expert with over a decade of experience in strategic storytelling, journalism and 360° media production. He has worked across digital, print and broadcast channels and contributed to sustainability-facing organisations, where he helped elevate the narrative on circular economy and inclusive green growth.
Colleen du Toit
CoLab Associate
Civil society leader and sustainability advisor with decades of experience in promoting an enabling environment for philanthropy and civil society. Former CEO of CAF Southern Africa and the Southern African Grantmakers Association, and previously Director of Strategy at Stats SA. She now supports organisations and changemakers to strengthen civil society and embed social impact in practice.
Dr Miriam Maina
CoLab Associate
Urban planner and researcher specialising in research and spatial analytics to support planning, policy development and implementation in African towns and cities. With a PhD in Town and Regional Planning from Wits, she develops action/applied research to support inclusive planning, human settlements development, and local economic development across East and Southern Africa.
Dr Tara Weinberg
CoLab Associate
Legal historian focused on land, property and housing in South Africa. Lecturer at Wits University whose work on communal property associations and land reform, including through their University of Michigan PhD, explores alternatives to state law and deepens debates on equity and belonging.
Purity Zinhle Mkhize
CoLab Associate
Transdisciplinary artist, creative director and facilitator working across sound, movement, and visual storytelling. Rooted in a Black queer and Afrofuturist lens, Pure’s practice blends ecological awareness, vocal alchemy, and activism to nurture healing and collective imagination. With a background in performance art and over a decade shaping South Africa’s Afropunk movement, they use creative education and decolonial methodologies to bridge art, ecology, and social transformation.
Hector Mgijiba
CoLab Associate
Multidisciplinary creative, climate activist and Mail & Guardian Young 200 awardee. Co-Lead CEO of Makers Valley Partnership and founder of World of Words, he drives community-centred creative development and cultural exchange, using storytelling and sustainability platforms to inspire connection and regenerative living.
Vuyo Koyana
CoLab Associate
Facilitator, psychologist, and coach with two decades of experience in diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), team effectiveness, and leadership development. Founder and MD of the Pan African Market in Cape Town, a hub of African creativity and enterprise.
Amy Brown Hendrickse
CoLab Associate
Facilitator, creative consultant, and cultural practitioner experienced in participatory design, storytelling, and arts-based community engagement. They have collaborated with NGOs, researchers, and artists on projects spanning land, food justice, and heritage, curating accessible outcomes such as anthologies and multi-sensory storytelling.
Malcolm McCarthy
CoLab Associate
Former General Manager of NASHO, specialising in housing policy, land release and affordable housing. He has worked extensively on municipal capacity, integrated development and land reform, and continues to support policy and implementation for spatial justice, strategic public land use and well-located affordable housing.
THE COLAB AFFILIATES
The CoLab has strong links with diverse affiliate organisations aligned in values and approach, with additional expertise that can be drawn on for projects.
The Economic Development Partnership
CoLab Affiliate
Public-benefit organisation and collaborative intermediary working with diverse stakeholders to build partnering initiatives for collective impact within the systems underpinning the economy. Supporting collaboration across government, business, civil society and academia, the EDP builds collaborative governance capacity and tackles complex development challenges within specific themes or in geographical areas. It designs and facilitates collaborative processes to strengthen systems, build trust and enable practical action, helping partners to co-create resilient, inclusive partnerships that contribute to inclusive socio-economic development. Its work is particularly focused in the following areas: Energy and Climate; Water Resilience; the built Environment; Wellbeing and Safety; and Local Economic Development.
Ranyaka Community Transformation
CoLab Affiliate
Non‐profit urban planning and development agency using a THRIVE framework to co-create thriving, resilient communities across South Africa. They partner with citizens, local stakeholders, government and investors to transform towns and neighbourhoods through place-based strategies, SMME and market development, public space renovation, citizen-led initiatives and integrated local economies.
DIJONDESIGN
CoLab Affiliate
Heritage, museum & exhibition design consultancy based in Cape Town, bringing rich storytelling to life through immersive design, research and digital-heritage experiences. Their work spans exhibition installations, VR/interactive media, archival research and public heritage engagements, with a track-record including national museums, virtual exhibitions and heritage placemaking.
a
1000Things Productions
Creative production company specialising in documentary, event and community-based videography. They combine professional filmmaking with a collaborative ethos, producing interviews, podcasts, exhibitions and digital storytelling that amplify local voices. With expertise in both on-site production and post-production, they partner with changemakers to craft accessible, high-quality narratives.
LEARNING FROM PRACTICE: SETTING UP THE MAKERS VALLEY PARTNERSHIP
📹 A great deal of practice-based learning was made possible by the Makers Valley initiative.
▶️ To learn more about Makers Valley and relevant findings for the The CoLab's work, listen to a deep-dive podcast on Spotify, generated by AI from Simon's PhD.