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. ceo@scouts.org.za 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 Meerkat Programme
Mrs Brenda Timmer
Brenda was a Brownie and a Girl Guide in her youth and earned her Founders Badge. Her Scouting journey began when her eldest daughter joined Cubs in Johannesburg and she stepped into uniform. After being transferred to Durban, she continued to serve as an adult volunteer in various roles, including Den Scouter, RTC Meerkats, and District Commissioner. Brenda has a passion for early childhood development and has been instrumental in growing the Meerkat branch.
Chair: National Adult Leader Training
Mr Cameron Belling
Mr Cameron Belling joined the Scouting Movement in Durban in 1998 as a Cub. He grew up in Scouting as Scout and later as a Rover. He held several Group and Regional Rover positions, and for the past 5 years served as Chair: National Rover Programme. Therefore, Cameron is no stranger to the Manco team. He is also an active member of the KZN Training Team and has been the Course Director of several Woodbadge courses.
Chair National Finance Committee:
Fr Charles Prince
Fr Charles joined the Scout Movement as a Cub, grew up and experienced many adventures as a Sea Scout at 2nd Plumstead and later as a Rover with various Crews. As an Adult Leader, he served in many roles at Group, District, Regional and National levels. He is also a member of the Western Cape Adult Leader Training Team and has been serving as the Regional Finance Representative for several years. In his ministry as a Catholic priest, he has also served in various roles in the Western Cape, including responsibility for youth ministry in the Archdiocese of Cape Town and oversight for the Archdiocese’s properties, a role he currently occupies while also serving as the parish priest of Christ the King parish in Pinelands.
Coordinator Better World Framework
Ms Jeanette Angus
Ms Jeanette Angus is a very busy payroll controller at a huge retailer. Jeanette volunteers all her spare time to the Scouting Movement. She joined the Scouting Movement in 1980 at 1st St Francis in Yeoville as a Pack Helper. For 36 years Jeanette has worked relentlessly to help Cubbing grow in South Africa. “Our aim is to develop children holistically; to become independent, healthy, happy and helpful individuals. Through the Cub Programme, which is aimed at the balanced development of each child, we provide ample learning opportunities through the play-way method.” Jeanette recently stepped into a new Scouting role as Coordinator Better World Framework. 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 Adult Resources
Mrs Joy Hutchinson
Mrs Joy Hutchinson hails from a family of Girl Guides and therefore understood the fundamentals of both movements from a young age. In 1997 she joined the Scouting Movement as a Pack Helper with 9th Benoni when her eldest son became a Cub. Shortly afterwards she was invested as an Assistant Pack Scouter. Since then Joy has held a number of roles ranging from Pack Scouter and East Rand ADC to trainer and now lead trainer in Gauteng. Since 2014 she has been a SSA International Committee member and has now taken on the role of Chair: National Adult Resources. Joy holds a Certificate of Merit and a Long Service Medal. Professionally, Joy has had a successful administrative career in multiple finance and HR departments in the corporate field. She has a secretarial diploma and has studied part time through Unisa majoring in education and psychology. Read more here
Chair: National Property Committee
Mr Kevin Trollip
Kevin Trollip spent his teenage and young adult years in the Scout Movement in the Cape Midlands. When his son went up to Scouts in Sandton District, Kevin stepped back into uniform. Since then he has held various Adult Leader roles at Group level, attended international Scout events including World Scout Jamborees. In 2008 Kevin and his family donated 20 hectares of their farmland to the Mpumalanga Scout Region to serve as the Esangweni camping and training ground. Kevin has built a successful career in corporate finance sales, healthcare fund management and is currently involved in sales of equipment to property developments.
Chair: National Cub Programme
Mrs Nkululeko Majola
Nkululeko ‘Nkulu’ Majola is a registered social worker in Limpopo. She joined the Scout Movement in 2003 as a Cub through the partnership with local NPO “Keep The Dream 196”. She has served in various Group and Regional Roles and brings with her many years of experience working with Cubs. In 2017 – together with her mother – she was voted ‘Scout Hero of the year’. In 2021 she was the first Rover BP Award recipient for the Limpopo Scout Region. Read more here.
Chair: National Marketing Committee
Mr Peter Statham
Peter Statham’s passion in life is the outdoors, adventure and communication through innovation and excitement. Peter has a diploma in Marketing from AAA School of Advertising and has extensive experience within the outdoor adventure industry. He has been in the Scouting Movement for many years and has great insights into how to approach and reach members of our various Scouting branches. Peter previously founded TWI (Teamwork Through Innovation) nd is currently the Operations Manager for Waterfront Adventures and Cape Shark Adventures.
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.