Liesl Smith - Facility Manager

Born and educated in South Africa, Liesl qualified with a BSc in Animal Physiology and Zoology and an Honours Degree in Wildlife Management. She spent some years as a High School biology and physical science teacher up country before moving down to Cape Town. Shortly after the move, Liesl started volunteering five days a week at Cheetah Outreach.  In 2001 she joined the staff and in 2003, took over management of the Cheetah Outreach facility.  Besides managing the daily operation, she has assisted in the implementation of the Anatolian Guarding Dog Programme in South Africa and helped develop the foundation-phase education resource.

Siyabonga Hlazo

Siyabonga joined Cheetah Outreach in 2001 and soon became an indispensable part of our team, making sure the kitchen is run smoothly and keeping the cats happy. When he isn’t in his kitchen cutting up meat for the cheetahs, he can be found using the weed-eater to keep the grass cut in the enclosures

Elizabeth Dube

Elizabeth has been working at Cheetah Outreach since 2002. She can be found running the shop and greeting visitors in her welcoming and professional manner. Cheetah Outreach wouldn’t be the same without her warm smile and ready laughter.

Pretty Cebibokwe

Pretty became a permanent member of the staff in 2003. Due to her commitment and rapport with the cats, she was trained to be a handler and can often be found working with the cubs.

Bonga Matina

Bonga started working part-time in 2007 to cover for Siyabonga in his kitchen duties. Because of his enthusiasm and eagerness to learn, he was hired full-time in 2008 and trained to be a back-handler, bringing in visitors to meet the cheetahs. After much training and hard work, he became a handler in 2011.

Zenzo Sithole

Zenzo was hired in 2008. He was trained to be a back-handler but is a jack-of-all-trades, working in the kitchen, shop and at the entrance gate as well as performing maintenance around the facility.

Cyril Stannard, Anatolian Project Coordinator

Cyril joined the Cheetah Outreach team in February 2008 as project coordinator of the Anatolian Guarding Dog Programme. He worked with Anatolian shepherd dogs for 10 years, beginning with the Department of Agriculture, before coming to Cheetah Outreach. A big part of his job is visiting and monitoring the Anatolians placed on South African farms on a monthly basis to ensure they are working and being cared for properly. Passionate about Anatolians, he enjoys his work immensely, and brings a great deal of experience to this important programme.  

Mary Maphori Possa

Mary, a qualified teacher with 20 years experience working in Primary Schools in the Western Cape, joined Cheetah Outreach in May 2009 to assist in the expansion of the education programme.  Mary was offered the position based on her previous relationship with Cheetah Outreach in designing resources, presenting at workshops, and her incredible passion and energy for education.  Mary speaks four local languages, which together with her knowledge of the school curriculum, is a valuable asset to Cheetah Outreach. 

Nikki Russell - Function Coordinator

Nikki joined the Cheetah Outreach staff in August 2009 as Function Coordinator. She has a Bsc in Environmental Management and over the past 10 years, has worked in the field of Environmental Education at various centres around South Africa and in the UK. She is passionate about wildlife and protecting the environment, and hopes to motivate and inspire others through her work. 

Yogi Nanny

Yogi started volunteering at Cheetah Outreach in December 2008.  He became a temporary staff member a year later and in February joined the staff permanently.  He has taken over responsibility for the Cheetah Outreach volunteer programme.  In his spare time, Yogi is continuing his studies and working toward a degree in Socio-informatics.  Yogi loves sharing his passion for cheetahs with visitors and new volunteers.

Aviwe Dube

Aviwe joined the staff in 2011.  His main job is running the entrance gate but he also helps out in the kitchen and with maintenance.  His ready smile and friendly manner makes him ideal for greeting visitors as they arrive at the Cheetah Outreach facility.

Zabayise Naphakade (Forever)

In memoriam

Sadly we have lost our friend and colleague Zabayise Naphakade, better known as Forever, who died from a sudden illness.  Since 2004 he has been in charge of the entrance gate, welcoming visitors as they arrive at Cheetah Outreach.  We will all miss Forever and Cheetah Outreach won’t be the same without him.

Katherine (Kat) Whitehouse-Tedd

Kat started volunteering at Cheetah Outreach in January 2000 as a handler and in the education programme.  As a veterinary nurse, Kat also assisted with the health care of the cheetahs.  In 2004 she set up the cub-rearing project at Cheetah Outreach and was project leader until 2007.  During that time, Kat completed her PhD in cheetah nutrition and has written a number of scientific papers on cheetah and cat nutrition; she is currently publishing a book about the nutritional management of captive cheetahs.  Kat is currently based in the UK where she works as a Scientific Researcher in the Gastrointestinal Health of Companion Animals, but she continues to volunteer as the Research Officer for Cheetah Outreach