Founders and Directors
Managing Director – Ndileka Santi
Ndileka Santi has extensive experience in working with differently abled persons, and is currently the managing director, chief strategist, conceptualiser and founder of African Sinakho Arts organisation. Ndileka’s passion for disability sector was first realised as she worked at Khanyisa School for the Blind in the Eastern Cape as a Specialist in Orientation and Mobility for the blind for eleven years.
She then migrated to the KZN Province where she served at the KZN Society for the Blind for two years as a Low Vision Officer and Orientation and Mobility Specialist. One of her greatest achievements in this institution was her successful design of a Braille learning aid for learners of foundation phase and newly blinded individuals. She also served as a Manager of the KZN Society for the Blind Resource Centre.
In 2006, she championed IEC voter education for blind and deaf youth. She designed a model that was successfully applied in the KZN Province. This model enabled the integration and participation of the disabled community in all activities that take place in South Africa during elections.
Her vast knowledge and experience in the disability sector earned her the opportunity to serve in the KZN Provincial Forum for the Disabled in 2007. She also participates in the KZN Operation Sukuma Sakhe on behalf of African Sinakho Arts as a stakeholder. This is a provincial government programme that aims to put an end to poverty, unemployment, crime, substance abuse, HIV/AIDS and TB by working with the people in a co-ordinated manner.
As the producer of In Blood disability musical production which successfully toured all major theatres in South Africa, Ndileka was responsible for stakeholder engagement, audience development, artist management and fund raising. She is currently the producer of Thetha Mosadi musical production which aims to showcase in all major theatres of South Africa and abroad.
Artistic Director – Bukelwa Cakata
Bukelwa Cakata is a multitalented writer, performer, curator and disability musical theatre director. A meticulous, hardworking individual who is constantly reinventing herself as an arts practitioner and an entrepreneur. She holds a Master of Arts – Music degree from the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal and two honours degrees; Bachelor of Arts Honours – Music (Cum Laude) from the University of KwaZulu-Natal and Bachelor of Arts Honours – English from Walter Sisulu University together with a Bachelor of Arts Music Education junior degree from Walter Sisulu University.
Bukelwa is a life-long learner who is always looking for new challenges in life. She has a particularly keen interest in community development, youth mentorship, disability, and HIV/AIDS awareness. She relishes any opportunity to contribute towards the betterment of our country’s values and moral fibre. Hence the content of her originally crafted In Blood Musical touches on all the above-mentioned issues. The title of her Masters Thesis “Normalizing Difference: The Transformative Role of the Arts as an agent of Change in the Context of Contemporary South African Disability Performing Arts Environment” bears witness to her interest in playing an active role in community development and moral regeneration. In November 2022, Bukelwa created and directed her second Musical Theatre Production Thetha Mosadi (Spek Out woman). The musical is aimed at breaking the silence about issues affecting women, youth and disabled people, and to encourage our society to create a more enabling environment for the voiceless to be heard using the arts as a medium.
Bukelwa is the scriptwriter, music composer, music arranger and director of African Sinakho Arts disability musical theatre productions. Equipped with adequate computer skills, she has helped transform African Sinakho Arts by crafting training programs, learning material, fund-raising proposals and project reports for the organization. She is innovative and creative and is always prepared to test new ways of doing things to increase efficiency and effectiveness in her role as African Sinakho Artistic Director.
Executive Directors:
98% of African Sinakho Arts board of directors comprises of people with different kinds of disabilities, in line with the Disability Rights Movement “nothing about us without us” slogan which aims to ensure the full participation and equalization of opportunities for, by and with people with disabilities.
- Chairperson – Siyabonga Mazibuko
- Deputy Chairperson – Phumla Swana,
- Recording Secretary – Zanele Masuku
- Treasurer – Thandi Gcwensa
- General Secretary – Mbali Msomi
- Additional Executive Member – Barbra Mthembu
