Our team

Our Team

Our team is made up of many people from diverse backgrounds and countries. Each brings their own talents and heart to what they are involved with, and we celebrate the rainbow colours and deep faith of each team member which make it possible to engage with the Rainbow Nation on so many levels.

Rene Auras
Rene loves to journey with the high-risk young people of the Cape Flats and see them move out of gangsterism, prostitution and drugs to wholeness and healing in Jesus.
He also helps create platforms where people from different backgrounds can use their unique talents to live their calling and together build God's kingdom.

Joan Ackerman
Joan is a lady of few words but a lot of wisdom and has been in ministry for many years. If you are willing to take the time to listen to her you will discover great treasures for you and your loved ones. Being a mother of three and a widow, this lover of God and prayer warrior always has a word of encouragement but is not scared to deliver a warning either. She deeply believes in the power of prayer and if she says she will pray for you, be ensured she will really do it!

Gavin Harris
Still waters run deep. This proverb fits Gavin, our strong, quiet and thoughtful team member who always has a protective eye on our team, caring deeply for anyones safety. Passionate for high-risk young people, Gavin, who also runs a small gym for young people from his neighbourhood Delft from his home, has considerable wisdom which he gained through lots of life experience.

Sandra Auras
Sandra loves to engage with juvenile girls in prison, spends time on the streets with the night time working women and is hands-on with the bus work in Manenberg.
A natural encourager with a love for Jesus and a heart for prayer, she feels the pain of others while being able to see what still could be in people’s lives. Sandra brings joy wherever she goes.

Charmaine Dijkshoorn
A Real Capetonian who studied Christian counselling through YWAM in The Netherlands and Switzerland, Charmaine is a qualified social worker and is married to Jaco. Her passion is to help hurting people and to empower people to reach their God-intended potential and destiny. She enjoys doing arts & crafts while discovering how to use this as a ministry tool to unlock self-worth and dignity.

Emma Horn
Emma lives in Somerset West with her husband Martin and her two children Joshua and Sarah. Her heart is to take God's love and His presence wherever she goes. Right now that is Pollsmoor's Female Centre where she is part of the team reaching out to juvenile girls, age 18-21, in the awaiting-trial section.

Celeste van Els
A South African girl with a heart to see broken people coming to know Jesus, this lady is committed, fearless and loves sharing the Good News. Leaving a career in teaching, she started serving young men in prison and journeying with broken people in Manenberg. Since graduating from law school and moving to Bloem she is our kinda of-counsel, staying connected from the distance.

Melanie Mokgatla
Melanie has been fascinated by the value of art since a young girl. She has combined her passion for people and her artistic gifts in a unique way in South Africa. She loves painting, photography and writing - all three serve as tools to help people tell their stories and celebrate the meaning of life.
If you can't find her in the art studio, she's either playing in the mud with her toddler or sipping iced coffee in the forest.

Our Board

Rene Auras - Executive Director & Founder

You'll find Rene wearing a baseball cap most days, but he actually has MANY hats. He's an attorney, prison & street pastor, team leader, bus driver, big brother to many boys, a husband to Sandra and a dad to their 3 children.
While Rene heads up New Beginnings, you'll generally find him on the streets of Manenberg or late night Cape Town ministering to at-risk communities.

Joslina Summerton - Chairperson

Joslina, by many simply called “Sister J”, is a passionate community worker, having worked for multiple charitable organisations in the fields of HIV and cancer in different functions, She has the gift of seeing “gold” in a person and encouraging that person to step into their potential. She brings her extensive experience in the NPO sector to our Board.

Sandra Auras - Co-Founder & Vice-Chairperson

Sandra is a local Capetonian all the way from Mitchell's Plain. She's a fantastic wife to Rene and awesome mom to their 3 children.
Sandra loves to engage with juvenile girls in prison, spends time on the streets with the night working women and is hands-on with the bus work in Manenberg.

Albeatha Hildebrand - Treasurer

Having worked in the banking sector for various major institutions for years, Albeatha, a true Capetonian, started a company that focusses on leadership development, team facilitation, coaching and personal profiling. Albeatha stands for integrity and always aims at excellence. A team player at heart, she wants to see individuals, organisations and communities grow healthy and strong. Albeatha is married and Mom to a beautiful young boy and in her spare time a pole fitness enthusiast.

Dave Barnes - Secretary

Dave and his wife Liz hail from the UK but have spent most of their lives in different parts of Africa working in several industries. Dave served in the NGO sector and community development in Westlake, Cape Town until he retired in 2018... well, not really!
This servant-leader and fervent Man-U supporter has joined us at New Beginnings as part of the admin team. He brings much freshness, great wisdom and lots of flavour to the mix.