Chief Scout: Mr Khonzaphi Mdaka
Mr Khonzaphi Mdaka joined the Scouting Movement in 1994 in Mataffin. In 2000 he became Deputy Provincial Commissioner and two years later he took on the role of Provincial Commissioner. In 2011 he was named Provincial Chairman and was also elected at the National Scout Council to serve on Steercom which oversaw the revitalisation of Scouting. In 2015 Khonzaphi became the Chair: SSA Properties, after which he was appointed Deputy Chief Scout in 2018. On the 1st of February 2022 Khonzaphi Mdaka became the Chief Scout of South Africa. Read more here.
Chief Executive Officer:
Mr Wayne du Plessis
Wayne du Plessis joined SCOUTS South Africa as CEO in June 2023. He has over a decade of managerial experience with World Vision, the Peninsula School Feeding Association, Food Forward SA, and as the Energy and Climate Justice Manager at SAFCEI. Wayne strives to bring about social transformation. He aims to ensure that SCOUTS South Africa becomes the physical demonstration of what we want South Africa to be. He further has a deep love and respect for the nature that surrounds us, and drive for the conservation thereof. [email protected] Read more here.
Chief Commissioner: Mr Gary Pienaar
Gary Pienaar joined the 9th Pietermaritzburg Cub Pack along with his younger brother, shortly before his 10th birthday. He achieved his Leaping, his Springbok and the old Chief Scout’s Awards. Over the years he has served in Group, District, Regional, Training and National roles. He has also served on the Scout Board. Gary holds a B. Com degree from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, an MBA from Stellenbosch University and was awarded the Old Mutual Medal for exceptional academic achievement. He has held various commercial positions and currently works for Tiger Brands Limited, and has experience in both business unit and group management roles. Mr Pienaar has 3 sons and resides in Johannesburg.
National Team
Chair: National Cub Programme
Dr Bronwyn Peake
Dr Bronwyn Peake has been an active member of SCOUTS SA for over a decade, beginning as a Cub parent and then stepping into uniform as an Assistant Pack Scouter and Pack Scouter at 1st Morningside, and more recently as Regional Team Coordinator: Cub Programme for Gauteng, where she actively supported Cub Packs and adult leader development across the region. She is also a Cub Woodbadge holder. Professionally, Dr Peake is a Remedial Therapist, Teacher, and Lecturer, bringing valuable expertise in inclusion and child development to the Cub Programme programme nationwide as Chair: National Cub Programme.
Chair: National Finance Committee
Ms Crystal Valere Abdoll
Crystal is a Chartered Accountant with over 25 years’ experience in the private, public, and non-governmental organisational sectors. Through her positions on various Committees and Boards she oversees the transparent and accountable management of stakeholder investments. She further strives to enable the development of young professionals while simultaneously fostering and encouraging ethical practices and high performance. Crystal holds multiple leadership roles, including but not limited to, Audit Committee member of the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa, Audit Committee Member of the City of Cape Town, Audit Committee Chairperson of the Eastern Cape Provincial Treasury, Trustee of the National Lottery Participants Trust, Director and Audit and Risk Committee Chair of Casidra SOC Ltd, and Audit Committee Member at the Department of Cooperative Governance (DCoG). She was also a member of the SCOUTS SA Board from 2020 – 2025.
National IT Coordinator
Mr John Roux
From joining the Scout Movement as a Cub at 2nd Rondebosch Scout Group in the Western Cape, to many years as a Troop Scouter and now giving back to the Group as Assistant Troop Scouter, John has lived the Scout experience! When not in Scouting, John is a fractional Chief Technology Officer and Senior Staff Engineer Consultant at RouxtAccess. It’s clear that he brings a vast IT and custom software development expertise to the team, and we are looking forward to growing our IT infrastructure in the years to come. Read more here.
Chair: Young Leaders Representative
Mr Jonathan Pienaar
Jonathan has shown himself to be a leader among the young people not only in the Gauteng Region, but also as a team member of the National Young Leader Representatives, as a WOSM Regional Youth Representative for the Africa Region and as a WOSM Scoutfluencer. Jonathan has held various youth leadership roles within his Scout Group 1st Bryanston and has represented Scouting youth at international conferences and events on many occasions. When not Scouting, he is an Aeronautical Engineering student at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. Read more here.
Chair: National Alumni
Ms Kathleen Godfrey
Chair: National Property Committee
Mr Nolan van der Merwe
Nolan van de Merwe successfully led the Northern Cape Scout Region for over 10 years ensuring the personal and leadership development of children, youth and adult leaders. Nolan has over 24 years of professional property management experience within the Sol Plaatje Municipality. As the Chair: National Properties, he will be supporting and driving the growth and sustainability of our various meeting, training and camping facilities nationwide.
Chair: National Marketing Committee:
Nosiphiwo Mkhize
Nosiphiwo Mkhize is a senior marketing and brand leader with over 16 years of experience driving growth and building purpose-led brands. She has held leadership roles at Momentum Group, Unilever, Tiger Brands, and Suntory Beverage & Food South Africa, delivering award-winning, multi-channel marketing campaigns.
She holds a BCom Honours in Marketing from the University of KwaZulu-Natal and a Digital Marketing certificate from the University of Cape Town. A qualified coach and founder of Sacred Selah, Nosiphiwo is passionate about purpose-driven impact and empowering Scouting to thrive in South Africa.
Chair: National Adult Support
Mr Paul Innes
Mr Paul Innes has lived the Scout experience. From joining the Scout Movement as a Cub with 1st Thornton to achieving his First-Class Award as a Scout. As an adult, he has held various leadership roles within Groups, predominantly at 1st Bothasig. Paul has also served as District Commissioner for the for the Tablebay and Atlantic Districts, as the Regional Team Coordinator Adult Support, and as an integral member of the National IT Support Team. Professionally, Paul is a Senior IT Technician for the City of Cape Town, specialising in front-end support. He also serves on his local Ward Committee, representing the Youth Sector, as Treasurer on his son’s High School Governing Body, and volunteers with Law Enforcement Services, coordinating a team of volunteers. More here.
Chair: National Meerkat Programme
Mrs Rochelle Booyens
Rochelle Booyens brings nearly two decades of dedicated service to SCOUTS SA, beginning her journey in Scouting as a Cub parent and volunteer before becoming a uniformed Scouter. She has extensive experience in youth development and volunteer leadership through her various Scouting roles, including Pack Scouter, Pow Wow Organiser, and Regional Team Coordinator for the Meerkat Programme in Gauteng. Rochelle holds both Cub and Scout Group Leader Wood Badges and is actively involved in adult leader training regionally and nationally. Her commitment and leadership in early-childhood Scouting contribute to building strong foundations in the youngest members of SCOUTS SA’s family.
Chair: International Committee
Mrs Sarah Chester-Browne
Sarah Chester – Browne has years of experience within the Movement in various Adult Leader roles. She joined the Scout Movement as a parent helper, and has since established the 25th Cullinan Scout Group, and has been instrumental in the establishment of the partnership with the Gauteng Department of Social Development.
Chair: National Rover Programme
Mr Thabiso Majola
Mr. Thabiso (papa) Majola has been actively involved in developing Rovering in the North West Region over the years, and also earned his BP Award in 2021. He has served as the Regional Commissioner for the North West Region , in addition to various roles within the Scout Movement over the years. Thabiso’s professional experience lies in both the financial and NPO sectors.
Chair: National Scout Programme
Mr Theo Rijs
Mr Theo Rijs has a wealth of Scouting experience, having served as an Adult Leader in both Group, District, Regional and National roles over the years. His background in Sales & Marketing, as well as involvement in a number of international Scouting events, supports the need to grow and develop effective volunteer teams. We look forward to Theo continuing to support our rollout of the Entsha Scout Programme and building the next generation of leaders to support the growth and implementation of the programme in all Scout Regions.
Chair: National Adult Leader Training: vacant