Group Profile

Kishugu is a leading, private Integrated Fire Management Solutions (IFMS) company.

Kishugu means anthill in Swahili. The Kishugu logo symbolises the anthill shape, a halo of the broad, all-encompassing nature and activity of the company and symbolises the collective of working together. It also encapsulates the vision to grow, see beyond the horizon and excel beyond all borders.

GLOBAL RESPECT

Kishugu is a South African based global land management company, with its roots in wildfire firefighting, suppression and prevention. Kishugu makes it its job to mitigate the effects of climate change.

Kishugu, through its subsidiaries, is globally acknowledged as a giant in its field wherever people meet to talk about Integrated Fire Management, wildfire suppression, the use of fire as a tool and the good husbandry of agricultural land.

Driven by the will to work for the greater good, Kishugu has perfected interventions to prevent the loss of life and the destruction of crops and infrastructure caused by wildfire.

Established over 32 years ago, Kishugu is defined by the philosophy of dedicated people working in harmony for a common cause. Kishugu – under the brand, Working on Fire – is shared with governments, private clients and agencies.

INTEGRATED FIRE MANAGEMENT (IFM)

With Integrated Fire Management (IFM) at its core, business divisions in the Kishugu stable provide:

  • Environmental Consulting Services
  • Strategic interventions
  • Policy advice to government or corporate entities
  • Integrated Fire Management
  • Aerial support for wildfire suppression
  • Aircraft maintenance
  • Pilot training
  • Firefighter training
  • Transport for wildfire firefighters,
  • Wide variety of training courses
  • Wide range of fleet for various requirements
  • Fleet management solutions
  • Risk analysis of spread of wildfires

 

As a direct result of intervention by experts from Kishugu, thousands upon thousands of hectares of land, on three continents, have been saved from wildfires in the past. In South Africa, the most visible aspect of Kishugu’s expertise is in the award-winning South African government-funded Working on Fire (WOF) Programme.

The Programme, managed under contract, has seen more than 5,000 previously unemployed people trained to become highly skilled wildfire firefighters.” WOF is celebrated as the most successful job creation and skills upliftment programme in the history of Southern Africa.

KISHUGU HOLDINGS (PTY) BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

Peter Beckenstrater

(Chairperson of the Board)

Summary

Peter Beckenstrater

Chairperson of the Board: Non-Executive Director

Qualifications:

B. ACC – University of the Witwatersrand
CA (S.A.)
Adv. Tax Cert. – UNISA

Skills, expertise and experience

Mr. Beckenstrater was a Managing Partner at KPMG Nelspruit and later became a Managing Partner at Beckenstrater & Associates – Chartered. He was an Associate Director at PriceWaterhouseCoopers for a number of years.

His role is an independent chairperson is to guide, strategise and advise on how to build the business from strength to strength.

Trevor Abrahams

Summary

Trevor Abrahams

MD of Working on Fire and Director of the Board

Qualifications:

B.A. Hons: Post Graduate Award Human Science Research Council
M.A: Post Graduate Research Award Human Science Research Council
M.A.: SUNY Foreign Student Scholarship Awards: December 1981, April 1985.

Skills, expertise and experience

Mr. Abrahams served on various boards within Kishugu, either as a director or Executive Director. He is currently the MD for Working on Fire. His previous experience ranged from being the CEO of the Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA), the Chairperson of the National Aviation Security Committee, National Director of the SCHED Trust, the Advisor for the Ministry of Education as well as the Advisor for the ministry of Trade and Industry.

Emile Grobbelaar

Summary

Emile Grobbelaar

CEO of Kishugu Aviation and Director of the Board

Qualifications:

BCompt Honours
CA (SA): South African Institute of Chartered Accountants.

Skills, expertise and experience

Mr. Grobbelaar joined the Deloitte Pretoria office in 2001 and was seconded to the Deloitte Office in Tampa Florida, USA in 2003 and later moved to the Nelspruit branch.  He left the Auditing Profession in 2006 for a career in commerce and industry whereby he joined Kishugu in 2009 as a Director and CFO of the company. He participated in developing and driving the group strategy, with specific focus on Finance. His interest for aviation grew where he became more involved with Kishugu Aviation. He served on the Aviation Board since 2010 and today holds the title as CEO for Kishugu Aviation since 2018.

Goodness Lubisi

Summary

Goodness Lubisi

Finance Manager: Working on Fire and Executive Director to the Board

Qualifications: BCom Accounting

Skills, expertise and experience

Mrs Lubisi started working at Working on Fire in 2005 as a Debtors and Creditors clerk until 2007. She was promoted to a Bookkeeper until 2009 and climbed the corporate ladder to become an Accountant for two years until she was appointed as the Finance Manager. She obtained various diplomas in this industry to upskill herself.

Johan Heine

Summary

Johan Heine

Non-Executive Director to the Board

Qualifications: MBA

Skills, expertise and experience

Mr. Heine, who is the co-founder of the Kishugu company, previously known as the  Forest and Fire Association (FFA) changed the face of wildland firefighting when he developed a model called Integrated Fire Management. This model today, is being implemented by various countries across the globe as well as in all nine provinces in South Africa. Kishugu also became the implementing agent for the SA government’s Working on Fire Programme. His extensive knowledge of firefighting and his pro-active and integrated approach to fighting fires, made this company the leader in it’s industry. After 30 years of gaining and sharing his knowledge, he exited the company in 2018 and is now serving as a non-executive director to the Board.

Nick Elliot

Summary

Nic Elliot

Non-Executive Director of the Board

Qualifications: Management Development

Skills, expertise and experience

Mr. Elliot is a keen businessman and entrepreneur and the Executive Director of Heidel Eggs. He serves on many boards of major corporates and institutions which include directorship of Vuka Forestry Holdings, Working on Fire and the Innibos Arts Festival. Mr. Elliot is the Chairperson of Nkosana Trust 145.

Joseph Magagula

Summary

Joseph Magagula

COID Administration Manager for Working on Fire and Director of the Board

Qualifications:

SAMTRAC Certificate: NOSA

IT IS Certificate: NOSA

Compliance Auditor’s Certificate: NOSA

Skills, expertise and experience

Mr Magagula joined the Tweefontein Timber Company in 1984 and four years later moved to Komatiland Forest to become a Senior Training Officer. He joined Working on Fire in 2004 and were promoted to his current position in 2015.

KISHUGU TRAINING (PTY) LTD BOARD MEMBERS

 

Tony Mancos

CEO: Kishugu Training (Pty) Ltd

Summary

Tony Mancos

CEO: Kishugu Training (Pty) Ltd

Qualifications:

NDip Company Admin
FCIS
B Compt. UNISA
Post Graduate Diploma Corporate Governance and Strategic Management UNISA/ ICSA
Professional Internal Auditor (PIA(SA))
Certified Control Self Assessor (CCSA)
Certified Internal Auditor (CIA)
Certified Risk Management Assurance (CRMA)

Trevor Abrahams

Summary

Trevor Abrahams

MD of Working on Fire and Director of the Board

Qualifications:

B.A. Hons: Post Graduate Award Human Science Research Council
M.A: Post Graduate Research Award Human Science Research Council
M.A.: SUNY Foreign Student Scholarship Awards: December 1981, April 1985.

Skills, expertise and experience

Mr. Abrahams served on various boards within Kishugu, either as a director or Executive Director. He is currently the MD for Working on Fire. His previous experience ranged from being the CEO of the Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA), the Chairperson of the National Aviation Security Committee, National Director of the SCHED Trust, the Advisor for the Ministry of Education as well as the Advisor for the ministry of Trade and Industry.

Tony Kennet

Summary

Tony Kennet

Skills, expertise and experience

Mr. Kennett is a keen entrepreneur and businessman with various shareholdings and business ventures in a variety of industries ranging from the hospitality- aviation- agriculture and farming industries. His appointment to the board is to play a technical advisory role to assist in the strategic business objectives of the company and to give clear direction in terms of the way forward.

Dr Caswell Nkuna

Summary

Dr Caswell Nkuna

Skills, expertise and experience

Dr Nkuna is a Medical Doctor with almost 20 years clinical experience, having qualified from Wits, MBBCH 1997, DOH (2006); the ABIME Training CIME (2010) and Milpark Business School MBA (Course Work).

He has vast experience in the field of Occupational Health including Disability Management Services, have acquired management skills in Health Services Management at Independent Private Hospital level.

KISHUGU AVIATION (PTY) BOARD MEMBERS

 

Trevor Abrahams

(Chairperson of the Board)

Summary

Trevor Abrahams

MD of Working on Fire and Director of the Board

Qualifications:

B.A. Hons: Post Graduate Award Human Science Research Council
M.A: Post Graduate Research Award Human Science Research Council
M.A.: SUNY Foreign Student Scholarship Awards: December 1981, April 1985.

Skills, expertise and experience

Mr. Abrahams served on various boards within Kishugu, either as a director or Executive Director. He is currently the MD for Working on Fire. His previous experience ranges from being the CEO of the Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA), the Chairperson of the National Aviation Security Committee, National Director of the SCHED Trust, the Advisor for the Ministry of Education as well as the Advisor for the ministry of Trade and Industry.

Emile Grobbelaar

CEO: Kishugu Aviation (Pty) Ltd

Summary

Emile Grobbelaar

CEO of Kishugu Aviation and Director of the Board

Qualifications:

BCompt Honours
CA (SA): South African Institute of Chartered Accountants.

Skills, expertise and experience

Mr. Grobbelaar joined the Deloitte Pretoria office in 2001 and was seconded to the Deloitte Office in Tampa Florida, USA in 2003 and later moved to the Nelspruit branch.  He left the Auditing Profession in 2006 for a career in commerce and industry whereby he joined Kishugu in 2009 as a Director and CFO of the company. He participated in developing and driving the group strategy, with specific focus on Finance. His interest for aviation grew where he became more involved with Kishugu Aviation. He served on the Aviation Board since 2010 and today holds the title as CEO for Kishugu Aviation since 2018.

Dean Khumalo

Summary

Dean Khumalo

Non-executive Director of the Board

Skills, expertise and experience

Mr. Khumalo served as the Executive Manager for MRO Operations at Denel Aviation SOC. Previous to that he held the position of Divisional Manager: Technical Services at the South African Express AIrways SOC. He previously worked as the Senior Manager for Airworthiness at the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA).

Qualifications:

Masters Degree: Aviation Safety specialising in Aircraft Airworthiness – ENAC and ENSICA.
Master of Business Administration (MBA) – Regenesys Business School.
Diploma in Senior Civil Aviation Management – Singapore Aviation Academy.
National Diploma in Aircraft Engines and Airframes Maintenance.
National Certificate in Aircraft Engines and Airframes Maintenance.
Aircraft Maintenance Engineers’ Licence. (SACAA Categories A & C).
Aeronautical Engineering Certificate.

Duke Moorosi

Summary

Duke Moorosi

Non-executive Director of the Board

Qualifications:

Professional Aviation Management: McGill University, Canada
DeHavilland Twin Otter Training: Toronto, Canada
Beechcraft King Air 300 Course: Wichita, KS, USA
Fokker Friendship RSA Training: Comair, Johannesburg

Skills, expertise and experience

Mr Moorosi has extensive experience in Flight Operations and holds an Airline Transport Pilot’s Licence. Over the years he gained Executive Level Management Experience and was the Chairperson of the Safety Review Panel of the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA). He held the position as the Chairperson of the SACAA as well various directorships at several companies.

Colin Jordaan

Summary

Colin Jordaan

Non-executive Director of the Board

Qualifications:

Aeronautical Engineering: Wits University
Mechanical and Structural Engineering: Aeronautical Research (CSIR)
Aviation Business Leaders’ Development Course: Cambridge Judge School of Business, UK –
Chief of Civil Aviation Authorities Course: Singapore Aviation Academy.

Skills, expertise and experience

Mr. Jordaan was the CEO and Director of the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) and the ex-officio Executive Director on the CAA Board.
He was a member of the South African Institute of Director’s since 2008 and a Non-executive director of 3S Media (Pty) LTD from January 2006 to July 2015.
Prior to that, Mr. Jordaan held the position as a non-executive director of the Recreation Aviation Administration South Africa (RAASA) as well as the Director on the Board of the Aero Club of South Africa. His experience in directorship started in 1975 when he was the Director of the Wits University Flying Association (Section 21 Company).

KISHUGU FLEET SOLUTIONS (PTY) LTD BOARD MEMBERS

 

Emile Grobbelaar

(Chairperson of the Board)

Summary

Emile Grobbelaar

CEO of Kishugu Aviation and Director of the Board

Qualifications:

BCompt Honours
CA (SA): South African Institute of Chartered Accountants.

Skills, expertise and experience

Mr. Grobbelaar joined the Deloitte Pretoria office in 2001 and was seconded to the Deloitte Office in Tampa Florida, USA in 2003 and later moved to the Nelspruit branch.  He left the Auditing Profession in 2006 for a career in commerce and industry whereby he joined Kishugu in 2009 as a Director and CFO of the company. He participated in developing and driving the group strategy, with specific focus on Finance. His interest for aviation grew where he became more involved with Kishugu Aviation. He served on the Aviation Board since 2010 and today holds the title as CEO for Kishugu Aviation since 2018.

Coenie Lamprecht

CEO: Kishugu Fleet Solutions (Pty) Ltd

Summary

Coenie Lamprecht

CEO: Kishugu Fleet Solutions (Pty) Ltd

Appointed: 2003

Qualifications:

B. Law: University of North West
Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA): Regent Business School

Ntsatsi Elisa Makwa

Summary

Ntsatsi Elisa Makwa

Skills, expertise and experience

Ntsatsi is the founding member of Mthunzi Mhle Holding Pty Ltd a consulting firm. She is a dynamic and seasoned black female with twenty (20) years corporate experience at various state-owned entities.

She has a vast experience in Commercial Law, Litigation, Labor Law, Contract Management, Stakeholder Relations and Supply Chain Management within Telecommunications, Conservation and Tourism Sectors. She has a vast exposure in providing legal and labor advises and opinions, development of various legal documents, policy development / reviews, forensic investigations and provision of end to end Supply Chain Management processes.

She holds a B Proc degree from University of the North (the now University of Limpopo), MDP from University of Stellenbosch and several certificates supporting various skills undertaken. She completed her legal articles as a Candidate Attorney with Mkhabela Huntley Adekeye Inc.

Jackie Huntley

Summary

Jackie Huntley

Skills & Expertise:

Coming soon.

COMPANY CEO’S

 

Emile Grobbelaar

CEO: Kishugu Aviation (Pty) Ltd

Summary

Emile Grobbelaar

CEO of Kishugu Aviation and Director of the Board

Qualifications:

BCompt Honours
CA (SA): South African Institute of Chartered Accountants.

Skills, expertise and experience

Mr. Grobbelaar joined the Deloitte Pretoria office in 2001 and was seconded to the Deloitte Office in Tampa Florida, USA in 2003 and later moved to the Nelspruit branch.  He left the Auditing Profession in 2006 for a career in commerce and industry whereby he joined Kishugu in 2009 as a Director and CFO of the company. He participated in developing and driving the group strategy, with specific focus on Finance. His interest for aviation grew where he became more involved with Kishugu Aviation. He served on the Aviation Board since 2010 and today holds the title as CEO for Kishugu Aviation since 2018.

Coenie Lamprecht

CEO: Kishugu Fleet Solutions (Pty) Ltd

Summary

Coenie Lamprecht

CEO: Kishugu Fleet Solutions (Pty) Ltd

Appointed: 2003

Qualifications:

B. Law: University of North West
Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA): Regent Business School

Trevor Abrahams

MD: Working on Fire (Pty) Ltd

Summary

Trevor Abrahams

MD of Working on Fire and Director of the Board

Qualifications:

B.A. Hons: Post Graduate Award Human Science Research Council
M.A: Post Graduate Research Award Human Science Research Council
M.A.: SUNY Foreign Student Scholarship Awards: December 1981, April 1985.

Skills, expertise and experience

Mr. Abrahams served on various boards within Kishugu, either as a director or Executive Director. He is currently the MD for Working on Fire. His previous experience ranges from being the CEO of the Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA), the Chairperson of the National Aviation Security Committee, National Director of the SCHED Trust, the Advisor for the Ministry of Education as well as the Advisor for the ministry of Trade and Industry.

Tony Mancos

CEO: Kishugu Training (Pty) Ltd

Summary

Tony Mancos

CEO: Kishugu Training (Pty) Ltd

Qualifications:

NDip Company Admin
FCIS
B Compt. UNISA
Post Graduate Diploma Corporate Governance and Strategic Management UNISA/ ICSA
Professional Internal Auditor (PIA(SA))
Certified Control Self Assessor (CCSA)
Certified Internal Auditor (CIA)
Certified Risk Management Assurance (CRMA)

About Us

Kishugu Holdings (Pty) Ltd, under its subsidiaries, provide, among other services, the most effective Fire Management System in the world. We subscribe to the rationale of accountability, teamwork, excellence, adaptability and making a difference in the lives of people, the environment and planet.

Our Future

Climate change and forestry mechanisation are expected to “change the game” for fighting forest fires, creating a need for a specialised fire management capacity. Kishugu®’s mission is to roll out its Integrated Fire Management Service (IFMS) model, developed in South Africa, to the rest of the world to meet this need.

Kishugu History

Kishugu Holdings and its subsidiaries are growing beyond its borders to provide so much more than just firefighting.