Who we are
Access to nutritious, affordable food is a fundamental human right. Section 27(1)(b) of the South African Constitution guarantees all the right to sufficient food and commits the state to the progressive realisation of this right. Additionally, Section 28(1)(c) states that every child has the right to basic nutrition, shelter, basic health care services and social services.
Still, South Africa suffers from high levels of hunger, food insecurity, and obesity and the associated non-communicable diseases such as heart disease and diabetes – all of which are consequences of the country’s broken food system. HEALA’s vision is a South Africa in which all people have equitable access to healthy food in order to unlock their full potential.
Vision
Affordable, nutritious food available for all who live and work in South Africa.
Mission
Mobilise and organise stakeholders around policy for affordable and nutritious food for all.
Meet the team
NZAMA MBALATI
Nzama is an experienced social activist with strengths in community and health systems strengthening, community mobilization, policy advocacy, lobbying, human rights and project management. Having worked in the social justice and public health space for over a decade, he is well-versed on issues of politics, policy, health, human rights, inequality and various other socio-economic issues facing the people of South Africa.
JACOB MALAHLELA
Jacob holds National Diploma Internal Auditing, Bcompt Accounting Sciences, MBA. He has over 20 years technical experience in accounting, tax, procurement, internal auditing, risk management, contract and grants management amongst multiple industries such as financial services, government entities, manufacturing, educational institutions and NGO sector.
ANGELIKA GRIMBEEK
Angelika Grimbeek is the Policy and Research manager at HEALA where she leads the technical resource development and manages the Nourished Truth campaign. She is a registered dietitian who has a special interest in child health and public health nutrition and holds a Master’s degree in Community Paediatrics. Her clinical and advocacy experience has broadened her understanding of the links between health, food and social systems in order to become a food justice activist.
ZUKISWA ZIMELA
Zukiswa Zimela is a senior strategic communications professional with more than a decade of experience leading communications for advocacy, media, and development organisations. She specialises in developing integrated communications strategies that strengthen organisational visibility, shape public discourse, and advance policy and advocacy goals. She currently serves as Communications Manager at HEALA (Healthy Living Alliance), where she leads strategic communications, media engagement, digital communications, and brand positioning in support of public health and food justice.
Her career spans the NGO and media sectors, giving her a unique ability to translate complex policy and development issues into compelling, audience-centred narratives. She began her career in advocacy communications before moving into journalism as a multimedia journalist and Acting Multimedia Editor at BDLive, later joining Ndalo Media as a print and digital content producer.
Zukiswa has extensive experience leading integrated communications campaigns, managing media relations, developing thought leadership content, and delivering impactful storytelling across traditional and digital platforms. Her expertise includes strategic communications, reputation management, stakeholder engagement, digital and social media strategy, multimedia content production, and executive communications.
She holds a Bachelor of Journalism (BJourn) in Photojournalism and Art History and Visual Culture from Rhodes University.
NOMIE MBULI
Nomie Mbuli Programmes Manager has nearly 20 years of experience in the non-profit and development sector. Her work has contributed to regional and international initiatives in food security, climate resilience and early warning systems across Southern Africa. She has worked alongside international donors, civil society organisations, local governments and communities to strengthen partnerships and deliver programmes that support vulnerable communities before, during and after times of crisis.
Driven by a deep commitment to people-centred development, Nomie is passionate about expanding access to life-saving information, strengthening community resilience and advancing evidence-informed advocacy that improves lives and creates lasting social impact.
BILAL MPAZAYABO
Bilal Mpazayabo is the Social Media Coordinator at the Healthy Living Alliance (HEALA), where he develops strategic communications that bring public health and food justice closer to the people they affect. With over eight years of experience in the non-profit sector, his career has evolved from housing and spatial justice to leading advocacy communications for healthier food environments in South Africa. Bilal specialises in campaign strategy, social media, copywriting, visual storytelling and community engagement, translating complex policy into compelling, accessible stories that inspire action. His work has helped shape national conversations around food justice, healthier food policies and consumer rights, taking these stories beyond digital platforms and into communities across South Africa through roadshows, public dialogues, media engagement, grassroots advocacy, protests and nationwide campaigns. Bilal believes communication is one of the most powerful tools for social change and is passionate about creating campaigns that empower communities, influence policy and contribute to a healthier, more equitable South Africa.
DESMOND MATHEVULA
Desmond Mathevula is a Finance and Administration Officer holding a Diploma in Accountancy with four years of professional experience in financial management and administrative operations. Desmond has expertise in bookkeeping, budgeting, financial reporting, payroll management, and maintaining accurate financial records. He is highly organized, detail-oriented, and committed to ensuring efficiency and accountability in all financial and administrative processes Proficient in accounting software such as Sage Accounting, Xero, sage professional Payroll Also Advanced Excel.
MPHO CHUMA
Mpho Chuma Junior Accountant holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Financial Accounting (BCompt), a Postgraduate Diploma in Forensic Accounting (PDGA), a National Diploma in Financial Management, and a National Diploma in Accounting and Financial Computing. With over 17 years of experience in the NGO and private sectors, she has managed donor-funded grants and financial operations for organizations supported by the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund, National Lotteries Commission, CDC, Equip, USAID, and DDD Africa.
Her expertise includes financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting, grant management, procurement, auditing, taxation, financial analysis, and month-end and year-end close processes. She is proficient in Sage Pastel, Sage Payroll, Procure-to-Pay (P2P) systems, CRM platforms, and advanced Microsoft Excel. Mpho has a strong track record of ensuring donor compliance, strengthening financial controls, and delivering accurate financial reports that support strategic decision-making. She is committed to contributing her financial expertise, analytical skills, and collaborative leadership to a mission-driven organization such as HEALA.
SIMPHIWE MASILO
Simphiwe is a dedicated and multi-faceted individual with a strong commitment to youth empowerment, activism, and social change. She served as a project lead of the South African Youth Gender Action Plan (SA YGAP), overseeing its rollout and engaging over 1000 youth contributors. Her efforts culminated into the successful launch of a unique youth-led policy framework. Simphiwe is the co-founder and co-host of the Activating Youth Activism podcast. A platform created to amplify the voices of brilliant and talented young activists in the spaces of economics, gender, climate change and policy engagement. She has also dedicated her time as a mentor and tutor at the Lebone Foundation, focusing on personal development, Model United Nations, Mathematics, and Physical Science. Simphiwe is also an accredited UN author, who has written a paper on the Feminization of Poverty, which she wrote in her time as a director for the Commission on the Status of Women at the International Model United Nations Agency. She is also a director of the Global MUN Agency and the African Rural Sustainable Schools organisation.
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