Back

Meet the ACSI Office Team

Meet the people working towards better Christian education in Southern Africa

Neil Malherbe
Neil Malherbe
National Director SA
neil_malherbe@acsi.org
Debbie-Sue Blanks
Debbie-Sue Blanks
Assistant Director
debbie-sue_blanks@acsi.org
Morgan Nel
Morgan Nel
Assistant Director
morgan_nel@acsi.org
Nicole Thomas
Nicole Thomas
PA to ACSI Director
nicole_thomas@acsi.org
Annerie van der Walt
Annerie van der Walt
Office Manager and Marketing
annerie_vanderwalt@acsi.org
Refilwe Thekiso
Refilwe Thekiso
Finance
refilwe_thekiso@acsi.org
Claudia Hiestermann
Claudia Hiestermann
Graphic Design
claudia_hiestermann@acsi.org
Jeffery Mashia
Jeffrey Mashia
Web Development
jeffrey_mashia@acsi.org
Mpho Thwala
Mpho Thwala
Administration
admin_sa@acsi.org
Shann De Smidt
Shann De Smidt
Policies
shann_desmidt@acsi.org
Erith Budge
Erith Budge
Western Cape Provincial Coordinator
erith@acsi.co.za
Ian Vermooten
Ian Vermooten
Eastern Cape Provincial Coordinator
ian@acsi.co.za
Cobus Sipsma
Cobus Sipsma
Southern Africa Regional Coordinator
cobus@acsi.co.za

Meet the ACSI Board members

Cobus Sipsma
Cobus Sipsma
BA Theology, MA Education Leadership, Appointed to the ACSI Board in 2020

Cobus has served in Christian education for 28 years. He is currently the Executive Head and Chaiperson of the Board at Rabboni Christian School and is serving as the ACSI Southern Africa Regional Coordinator.

Erith Budge
Erith Budge
BA Honours, NHED B ED, Appointed to the ACSI Board in 2021

Erith has served in Christian education for 45 years and was the Headmaster of El Shaddai Christian School for 25 years. Erith is currently an educational consultant and is serving as the ACSI Western Cape Provincial Coordinator.

Jacobus (Mac) van den Berg
Jacobus (Mac) van den Berg
B ED, BA Honours, MA in Education Leadership, Appointed to the ACSI Board in 2021

Mac has served in Christian education for 30 years. He is currently the Vision Leader and Principal at Eagles Nest Christian School in Polokwane.

Tim irving
Tim Irving
TTHD, Appointed to the ACSI Board in 2018

Tim has served in Christian education for over 20 years. He retired as Executive Head of HeronBridge College in 2022 and is currently an educational consultant.

Shann De Smidt
Shann De Smidt
PTD, HED (Pre-primary), Appointed to the ACSI Board in 2020

Shann has served in Christian education for over 30 years. She retired as School Principal at Eastside School, Pretoria, at the end of 2021 and currently serves as part-time policy writer for ACSI Southern Africa.

Ian Vermooten
Ian Vermooten
Advanced IPM Diploma, Appointed to the ACSI Board in 2021

Ian has served in Christian education for 12 years and retired as the Executive Head at Harvest Christian School in Gqeberha (PE) at the end of 2023. Ian currently serves as the ACSI Eastern Cape Provincial Coordinator.

Martin Botha
Martin Botha
BA Humanities, PGCE, Appointed to the ACSI Board in 2023

Martin has served in Christian education for seven years. He is currently the Managing Director of StudyXpress Potchefstroom, which he founded in 2016 as a dual-medium, Christian combined school.

Kgethi Dlamini
BA, HDE, B. ED, MED (Community Education). Appointed to the ACSI board in 2024.

Kgethi has served in Christian Education for 11 years. She is currently the principal at Kingsway Christian School in Johannesburg. She serves as a director on the Kingsway Centre of Concern Board and as a Board member of ACSI Southern Africa. Kgethi is the current chairperson of the Gauteng Joint Liaison Committee (GJLC) as the ACSI representative.

Afrika Mhlophe
MTh (Morling College, Sydney), Appointed to the ACSI board in 2024

Afrika has served as a pastor for 17 years. He is currently the director of Step Up Foundation, which he founded in 2023 to galvanise Christians to step up and be a voice of truth in all domains of society. He is also the author of four books, including a best-seller in South Africa, Freed by God but Imprisoned by Culture. 

Neil Malherbe
Neil Malherbe
M ED, Appointed to the ACSI Board in 2023

Neil has taught and served in leadership roles in a number of schools across South Africa. He is currently the National Director of ACSI Southern Africa.