staff & board

Development Manager

Gadija Majal

Gadija  joined Jungle Theatre Company on 1 May 2024, and bringing over 7 years of experience in Programme Management and Coordination within the non-profit sector. Gadija holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Disability Studies from the University of Cape Town and has a strong background in community development and targeted programme interventions, particularly addressing the needs of young children, adolescents, orphans, and vulnerable individuals.

In her role as Development Manager, Gadija leads fundraising, donor engagement efforts and resource mobilisation while overseeing the daily operations and long-term strategic direction of Jungle Theatre Company. Her responsibilities span financial management, fundraising initiatives, advocacy efforts, human resources, and overall organizational administration.

Gadija plays a pivotal role in shaping the organization’s vision and ensuring efficient operational practices. She is dedicated to fostering a positive organizational culture and empowering staff to achieve strategic objectives in alignment with the Jungle Theatre Company’s vision and mission.

Artistic director

Heather Gielink

On 1st September 2022, Heather Gielink became part of JTC, where she started out as the Arts Administrator quickly moving into the role of Production Manager and more recently appointed as JTC’s Artistic Director. Prior to joining JTC, Heather completed her honours degree in Dramatic Art at the University of the Witwatersrand. Her journey after graduation involved co-founding the iNkundla Theatre Festival and establishing a children’s theatre company in her hometown of Port Shepstone. She also served as the deputy chairperson for KZNDSAC’s arts and culture district forum and gained experience at The Playhouse Company.

Heather’s dedication to youth development through the arts is evident in her passion and involvement. As the Artistic Director she leads creative processes; ensures project and production development and roll out, supports fundraising & financial processes and serves on JTC’s executive staff committee, where she contributes to strategic decision-making, organization-wide initiatives and partnership development.

Arts administrator

Lunga Qankqalala

Lunga Qankqalala started with JTC on 6 November 2023. He was born in the Eastern Cape and moved to Cape Town to start his primary education until he completed his matric at Isilimela Comprehensive School in Langa. He then went on to further his studies at CPUT where he acquired a National Diploma in Marketing. In 2016, he began his career at Artscape Theatre where he secured a job as a Marketing Administrator taking on the administrative duties as well as some of the marketing functions of the company, a role in which he occupied for six years. He is very passionate about the arts and very determined to serve the industry as an administrator.

Artist representative

Click here for more info on Zizipho Gcasamba, JTC’s artist representative.

Board

JTC’s Board consists of the following members:

Marcel Londt – Chairperson
Randall Letsape – Treasurer
Ntombifuthi Mkhasibe – Secretary
Vincent Meyburgh – Non-office bearer
Ann-Maree Tippoo – Non-office bearer
Liezl Jansen – Non-office bearer
Crispin Swart – Non-office bearer