Catherine Caroline Williams is a Programme Associate at JDI-SA. She provides support to the JDI-SA training, communication and advocacy programmes. She volunteers to address the needs of LGBTIQ+ communities and the people with disabilities with the Gender Equity Office (GEO) at the University of the Witwatersrand. Previously, she worked as a social researcher for Social Survey Africa and as an Assistant Educator with the South African Department of Basic Education (DBE). Caroline holds a BA in Politics and International Relations and is currently studying towards a Bachelor of Laws degree (LLB).

Doreen Gaura is a Senior Programme Officer at JDI-South Africa. She trains corrections officers and other stakeholders; assists in the coordination of a civil society network to uphold detainee rights; conducts research and advocacy; coordinates JDI-SA’s communications work; and supports survivors of sexual violence in detention. Prior to joining JDI-SA, Doreen was involved in advocacy promoting the rights of children, women, and LGBTI people with various NGOs in South Africa and Zimbabwe. She is a widely published writer and blogger who has written extensively on human rights issues, especially related to race, gender, sexuality, culture, and identity.

Prince Nare is Co-Director at JDI-South Africa, based in Johannesburg. As a key member of the JDI-South Africa team, he coordinates JDI-SA’s work inside South African prisons and works with other civil society organizations to highlight the needs, human rights, and dignity of inmates. Previously, Prince worked on a project of the University of Pretoria that aims to improve the health care at district hospitals. Additionally, Prince has researched and written extensively about human rights abuses and barriers to health and justice facing sex workers in several African countries.

Reabetsoe (Rea) Noge is a Programme Officer at Just Detention International-South Africa. Rea leads JDI-SA’s survivor support work, participates in capacity-building for stakeholders, and conducts advocacy to protect the rights of incarcerated people. She is a Child and Youth Care Practitioner by profession. Before joining JDI-SA, Rea was the Counselling and Employee Wellness Services Manager at Lifeline Johannesburg, which offers free mental health services to marginalised communities. She has also facilitated BrainBoosters — an educational programme for children. Rea is passionate about mental health and has presented on the subject to national and international audiences.

Sasha Gear is Co-Director at JDI-South Africa, based in Johannesburg. Sasha works closely with the South African Department of Correctional Services and civil society groups to address sexual abuse in detention and the associated health risks. Sasha also leads JDI-South Africa’s outreach with prisoner rape survivors. Before joining JDI, Sasha worked at the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation, where her research on sexual violence in South African prisons has helped bring this abuse out of the shadows. She has published several scholarly articles on issues of gender and sexual abuse in South African prisons.

Unathi Mahlati, MA, is a Senior Program Officer at JDI-South Africa. She conducts research, manages JDI-SA’s communications, drafts internal policy/policies, and trains the Department of Correctional Services’ (DCS) officials and spiritual care workers on preventing and addressing sexual abuse of incarcerated people. Additionally, she conducts trauma-informed art workshops with incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people, using creative expression as a tool for reflection and healing. Before joining JDI-SA, she was an intern at the Wits Justice Project, a program of the University of Witwatersrand’s Journalism Department that investigates miscarriages of justice within South Africa’s criminal justice system.

Christopher Malgas joined the Department of Correctional Services (DCS), then called Prison Services of South Africa, in 1977. He started his career in DCS training probational warders. During his time there, he worked as the Head of several units in the Maximum Security facility and the juvenile section. He was also one of the pioneering members of Friends Against Abuse — a counselling body advocating for rape-free incarceration. In 2004, Chris, through Friends Against Abuse, contacted JDI to collaborate in tackling the sexual violence they were witnessing at Pollsmoor Prison. This initial interaction led to JDI’s long-term involvement in South Africa, and to the eventual establishment of JDI-SA. By the end of his 40 years of service with DCS, Chris had become a renowned expert on gangs, and played a key role in the drafting of the DCS Anti-gang Strategy, which he continues to help implement. Chris also works in his community with youth and children in conflict with the law and with behavioural disorders.

Delene van Dyk is a Nurse Therapist and Nurse Educator by profession, with more than 25 years’ experience in the field of mental health, sexual health, and education. She runs her own international consultancy, 2nd Sight Consultants, which focuses on training, development, and mentorship of individuals and groups, to understand human sexuality — specifically sexual and gender diversity. She has trained, sensitized and mentored more than 30 000 people and consults for various governments, NGO’s as well as the private sector in Africa and internationally. As a member of the Psychological Society of South Africa’s (PsySSA, similar to APA) core team for developing and publishing Practice Guidelines For Psychology Professionals Working With Sexually and Gender-Diverse People, Delene is a sought-after public speaker, who talks about the things that most adults struggle to talk about in a sex positive and affirming way.

Jay Judah Matlou is the Head of Programmes at the Thami Dish Foundation. He has over 13 years experience working in the LGBTI sector in a range of positions. This includes co-ordinating the PRISM (Prevention & Research Initiatives for Sexual Minorities) Project for the OUT LGBT Well–Being organisation which is aimed at improving STI/HIV/AIDS prevention programmes in South Africa as well as Southern Africa, and Central and South America. Jay has received extensive training in the principles and art of facilitation and counselling. He has also been trained on LGBTI and Human rights in Sweden, Namibia, and Nigeria and has worked as a health officer and master trainer in the fields of human sexuality, HIV Prevention, diversity training, and life skills. With over 10 years’ experience in counselling individuals and families in understanding and accepting the challenges experienced by sexual minorities, he has trained more than 8 000 people, including healthcare service providers, globally.