About us

Matla A Bana (previously known as the Callie and Monique Trust) is a charity project founded by Monique Strydom after surviving a four month hostage ordeal.

After two horrific baby rapes, Monique was asked to chair a task team that investigated child rape in South Africa. A need for an organization which could address the need of child victims during the immediate hours after surviving sexual abuse was identified. Monique undertook to assist with this and Matla A Bana was founded in August 2002.

Matla A Bana is a national organisation with a Memorandum of Understanding with the South African Police Services.

The Matla a Bana Charity Trust was founded and registered as a Non Profit Organisation (036-349-NPO), with section 18A benefit.

The bank account and administrative management is managed by Absa Trust Limited).

Financial reporting is done on a yearly basis with the publication of the audited Yearly Financial Statements as well as the hosting of an annual AGM.

The NGO can also issue BEE Certificates.

Business entrepreneur

Corné Davis is an associate professor at the Department of Strategic Communication, at University of Johannesburg, lecturing in strategic communication. She has published several articles in peer reviewed journals and has presented papers at both national and international conferences. Her current research focuses on gender-based violence (GBV) as a global sustainability challenge. She is collaborating with Shared Value Africa Initiative in doing research on how to facilitate multi-sector collaboration in GBV prevention and intervention in the private sector in South Africa. She is a member of Pillar six in the presidency’s National Strategic Plan to address GBV focusing on research and information management.

Business owner and executive coach

Esmé works from blue-chips to newly-listed companies across all industries. Quoted in the Maverick Magazine's Portfolio of the Coaches as a "visible conscience", she helps executives unlock the passion within and unleash their true potential. Other areas of speciality include facilitating Strategic Planning and Large Group Change sessions. Her educational attainments include an M.Com HRM (RAU), a post-graduate Diploma in Strategic Marketing (Unisa) and a B.Com (Hons) Industrial Psychology (RAU).

Motivational speaker and author

Monique Strydom is known as an ex-hostage after being kidnapped and held hostage by an Al Qaeda group. Upon her return she dedicated her life to help others in need. She hosted her own TV shows, as well as her own radio travel show. She is the co-author of the book "Shooting the moon" and the author of "Vrygekoop" - both best sellers. She is the winner of numerous awards including the Johannesburg Press Club Newsmaker of the Year Award, Rotary International Paul Harris Award, Lions International Hero of the Year Award and the White Ribbon Award. She was also a finalist in the Sunday Times Johnny Walker Nation's Greatest Hero Award.

Pastor and leader in the evangelical movement.

Ndaba is an ordained Baptist minister and serves as Associate Pastor of Community at Rosebank Union Church, Johannesburg. He has served as Chair of the International Council of the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA), President of the Association of Evangelicals in Africa (AEA), and Principal of ICBM College. He joined the Mission Aviation Fellowship Int’l (MAFI) Board in 2016. He serves as the Council Member of The Gospel Coalition Africa (TGC-A) and he is also a Research Fellow of the Olivet Institute for Global Strategic Studies (OIGSS) with its base in San Francisco, US. Ndaba has participated in a number of forums and ecclesiastical gatherings, addressing and advocating on issues relating to justice, kindness and righteousness.

Adv Veerash Srikison is the founder of Fair Practice, based in Johannesburg and the South African representative for ADR ODR International (AOI). She is a Harvard trained mediator and negotiator. She is also a cum laude graduate of the Arbitration Foundation of South Africa (AFSA) in ADR. She has obtained a LLM (University of Pretoria) with a distinction merit for her dissertation on mediation in family law. She is also an internationally accredited civil/commercial mediator and negotiator through CEDR (UK) and AOI (UK). She has become a known speaker on all media platforms endorsing peace over conflict and the empowerment of the vulnerable through her work as mediator and negotiator in high conflict disputes. She is the lead trainer for Fair Practice and AFSA in mediation and negotiation skills.