CTIN Secretariat

The Civic Tech Innovation Network (CTIN) is a Community of Practice (CoP) and action learning network for people with an interest and commitment to leveraging the nexus between technology and civic activism.

Prof. Geci Karuri-Sebina

Organiser

Geci is an Associate Professor of Digital Governance at the Wits School of Governance, and has worked with the CTIN as National Organiser since 2018 during its incubation at the Wits School of Journalism. She has a background in using tech and innovation to work with communities, and is a thought-leader in anticipatory governance. Her research interests span a range of development foresight, policy, planning and practice topics, particularly relating to urban governance, socio-technical systems, and innovation systems.

Her previous roles include being the Executive Manager for Programmes at South African Cities Network, a public think tank; developing knowledge and evaluation systems for National Treasury’s Neighbourhood Development Programme; managing research programmes at the CSIR and HSRC, and working as a technology associate at the UCLA Advanced Policy Institute.

Geci holds a PhD in Planning and Innovation Studies (Wits), Masters degrees in Architecture and in Urban Planning (UCLA), and Bachelors degrees in Computer Science and Sociology (Iowa). She is a co-editor of the Innovation Africa book series (2016, 2023) and an associate editor on several journals on futures and development.

Moipone Kgatle

AUCTF Project Lead

Moipone Kgatle is a passionate and driven communications specialist with a strong foundation in media, journalism, and international relations.

Born and raised in Pretoria, she brings extensive experience from working with NGOs and international organisations, particularly in projects focused on youth empowerment. Her career in international development was sparked during her time teaching English in Toyama, Japan, where she actively participated in community initiatives that deepened her interest in global collaboration and social impact. Since returning to South Africa, Moipone has been engaged in initiatives at the intersection of the digital economy and the green economy, contributing to sustainable development and inclusive innovation across the continent.

With a dynamic professional journey spanning Cape Town, Johannesburg, and Japan, Moipone continues to bring strategic insight and cross-cultural experience to her work in civic tech and digital inclusion.

Katlego Mohlabane

CTIF Project Lead

Katlego brings over nine years of experience in the civic tech sector. He has been instrumental in developing and scaling platforms that promote…

Katlego Mohlabane brings over nine years of experience in the civic tech sector. He has been instrumental in developing and scaling platforms that promote access to justice, community organising, and digital civic education. His work includes key contributions to Grassroot, a mobile tool for community activists; CaseFile, a digital case management system supporting Community Advice Officers in remote areas; and Evictions.org.za, a public resource that helps individuals navigate unlawful evictions.

In 2018, Katlego was recognised globally as one of six winners of the CivicTech4Democracy Global Competition in Brussels, Belgium. That same year, he facilitated a workshop on digital security and hygiene for activists at the 20th EU-NGO Forum, also in Brussels. Under Grassroot, and in partnership with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Katlego co-created and led the first-ever training curriculum delivered entirely through WhatsApp, empowering grassroots organisers with advocacy and leadership tools using a platform already familiar to them. He later co-authored the accompanying guide, “Teaching on WhatsApp: Leadership and Storytelling for Grassroots Community Organizers.”

Frans Maluleke

Programme Administrator

Frans is a Bachelor of Accounting Sciences graduate at the University of the Witwatersrand, who has a background in using mentorship, leadership, advocacy and…

Frans is a Bachelor of Accounting Sciences graduate at the University of the Witwatersrand, who has a background in using mentorship, leadership, advocacy and activism as a tool to positively impact spaces and people through various local and global organisations.

Before joining the CTIN, Frans was a Projects and Finance Intern the Student Equity and Talent Management Unit (SETMU) over the past year. As part of his duties, he was a mentor coordinator and liaison for the Targeting Talent Programme, while also forming part of a collaborative mentor coordination team between SEMTU and the DLU for the First Year Experience (FYE) Mentorship programme.

Frans also serves as a board member of the Association for the Advancement of Black Accountants of Southern Africa (ABASA) Johannesburg Branch.

In 2021, He was a member of Project approval sub-committee entrusted with the allocation of $200 000 for the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Covid-19 recovery fund and he was also recognized as one of the Top 100 most employable students by the DHL 2021 Gradstar awards.

Rofhatutshedzwa Ramaswiela

Research Assistant

An impact maker at heart, that is who and what Rofhatutshedzwa strives to be. She finds herself in spaces of growth, learning, and innovation…

An impact maker at heart, that is who and what Rofhatutshedzwa strives to be. She finds herself in spaces of growth, learning, and innovation. An individual who is passionate about development and branches into galaxies that aim to make the world a better place. This could be done through research, writing, collaboration, or advocacy.

Rofhatutshedzwa holds 2 degrees from the University of Johannesburg and is currently pursuing her MA in Social Policy and Development. A published co-author who tells real-life stories. Moreover, she has been involved in youth leadership platforms and civic educational spaces and continues to immerse herself in these spaces.