Amathuba was the vision of Suzy Lyle and Robert Zuma [above], who combined their skills, resources and knowledge of the local community and customs, to effectively co-ordinate and manage the project.

Suzy Lyle
Suzy Lyle - who passed away on 5 March 2011, was a qualified psychotherapist who was passionate about empowering people to create the results they want in life. Suzy, who was born in the UK, was shocked to discover the poverty and unemployment among the previously disadvantaged communities of South Africa and set out to make a difference.

Before her death, Suzy worked tirelessly to raise funds for the building projects. She also set up Suzy’s Crew – a small construction company managed by Robert Zuma, to teach members of the community carpentry, bricklaying and plastering skills as well as to create employment.

Robert Zuma
Robert is a well loved and respected Embo community leader, who leads the community building project and helps mobilise and train other community members in skills such as bricklaying, plastering, plumbing and painting.

Skhumbuzo Myeza
A Graphic designer by profession, Skhumbuzo loves people and this is what inspires him to serve for a just society. He is committed to working for peaceful, equitable and sustainable social change within African communities.

Skhumbuzo is an Oxfam International Youth Action Partner in the Global force for change. He has also worked with the YMCA on Civic Empowerment, lobbying the Durban South communities regarding youth injustices. Through his engagement with these social agencies he has acquired skills in fundraising, lobbying and advocacy.

“I have joined Amathuba to utilise my skills for the benefit of the Embo community, which is one of the most impoverished communities in KwaZulu-Natal,“ he said.

Augustine Shamuyarira
Augustine is a journalist from Zimbabwe. In addition to ten years’ experience as a journalist, he was publishing editor of two community magazines, The Gale and Athlone Blues; Assistant editor of a national Young People’s Newspaper, The New Generation and President of the Vibrant Book Culture, a community project promoting a reading culture and computer literacy.

He has also translated Baha’i literature from English to ChiShona. Augustine is a keen poet (he self-published a poetry compilation in 1996 titled The Din of Silence), music and art critic, with works published in art journals and booklets in Holland, Germany, Switzerland, Zimbabwe and other countries.

Augustine describes himself as : A father and a husband. A believer in the sanctity of human life and the nobility of the family. “The achievements of the NPO so far and the way it positively impacts on the lives of the beneficiaries inspired me to want to be part of it,” he adds.

Daisy Makhaye
One of the original members of the NPO, Daisy helps with the management of finances.
She is a Business Banker responsible for advising and guiding Small Medium Enterprises with their finances.

When Suzy and Zuma shared their vision with Daisy, she decided to get involved because she grew up in a poor community like Embo. "I want to help teach people in the community how they can empower themselves by working together toward common goals," she said.