Our team

Unser 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.

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.

Celeste van Els
A South African girl with a heart to see broken people coming to know Jesus, this lady is committed and fearless and loves sharing the good news. Leaving a career in teaching, she started serving young men in prison, while at the same time studying law, praying for the sick in hospital and journeying with broken people in Manenberg. Celeste also words in restorative justice interventions.

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.

Georg Schilling
Georg is our thoughtful theologian and teacher who loves to challenge your thinking to find out what you really believe. While that at times leaves people feeling rubbed the wrong way, believe me that his intentions are good and loving. Passionate about the Word and with a deep interest in Is lam, Georg loves to dig into any topic of interest, grow through learning and studying and visit people at their homes.

Ewanka Hendricks (Intern)
Ewanka is our first New Beginnings intern! After knowing and walking with Ewanka for a few years, Ewanka joined our team as an intern end of 2020. Born and raised in Manenberg she this young mother of two kids does not only know the local culture and is always on the beat but is passionate about seeing things in her own community.

Gertrude Moyo
An Intercessor at heart, this Zimbabwean prayer warrior and authoress longs to see the restoration of individual lives and the transformation of a whole community through the power of prayer.
In our bus project she is constantly praying, be it Prayer Walking the community, interceding with others in the bus or proclaiming God’s prophetic Word over Manenberg in the sanctuary of the driver's cabin.
She is passionate to hear from God and help others hear His voice as well.

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.

Andrew Pequeno - Treasurer

Andrew, a South African with Portuguese roots, gets excited about spreadsheets and numbers. A Chartered Accountant by profession, with a tendency for perfectionism, he makes sure New Beginnings finances are always 100% compliant.
With a big heart for the struggling communities of the Cape Flats, you'll find Andrew he coaches a soccer team in Hanover Park in his spare time..

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 worked in the NGO sector and community development in WestLake, Cape Town until he retired... 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.

Alyssa Appie - Bookkeeper

Not part of the board but working closely with the board, esp. the Treasurer, our beautiful local bookkeeper Alyssa from Mitchells Plain always makes sure that New Beginnings books are accurate and up to standard and is doing the groundwork for the Treasurer. Being an accountant by profession herself, she has attention for detail and a passion for numbers while being an easy-going, fun and adventurous person who likes to explore new things and is a fabulous netball player.