Pheladi Pezulu
Johannesburg
Summary
Development practitioner and sustainability advocate with over a decade of experience across engineering, socio-economic development, and strategic operations. Currently pursuing an MPhil in Development Practice at the University of Pretoria, with research focused on plastic waste repurposing for community infrastructure. As a volunteer at Earthly Touch Foundation, I actively contribute to climate change mitigation through grassroots solutions that integrate waste reuse, community empowerment, and education. Passionate about advancing nature-based approaches, sustainable livelihoods, and circular economy innovations.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
Work History
Volunteer - Sustainability & Community Development
Earthly Touch Foundation
02.2025 - Current
- Contribute to climate change mitigation through repurposing plastic waste into eco-bricks used for green building.
- Leverage insights from ongoing MPhil research to showcase the foundation’s work and support the development of funding proposals and donor engagement strategies.
- Support environmental education, skills transfer, and awareness in under-resourced communities.
- Promote circular economy principles and community ownership in sustainability initiatives.
- Investigating the intersection of community leadership, sustainability, and waste repurposing.
- Exploring models for replicable, low-carbon infrastructure using participatory development.
- Focus on SDGs: 11, 12, 13, and 17.
General Manager
VANEDI
01.2024 - Current
- Company Overview: Johannesburg
- Successfully managed over R1 million in Enterprise and Supplier Development (ESD) and CSI funding, ensuring alignment with compliance requirements and strategic impact.
- Led the transformation of Vanedi’s B-BBEE status from Level 8 to Level 1 in just 7 months—a pivotal change that enabled the company to become eligible for major project opportunities and significantly improved its competitiveness in the market.
- Drive B-BBEE initiatives and community development.
- Oversee delivery to Eskom, manage budgets and project risks.
- Johannesburg
ESD Practitioner
Dipeolwana
01.2022 - 01.2023
- Company Overview: Consulting for South32 and Exxaro
- Facilitated SME funding access in mining communities.
- Developed formalisation frameworks for waste pickers in Lephalale.
- Monitored ESD programme impact and sustainability.
- Consulting for South32 and Exxaro
Operations Manager
Indalo Water Technologies
01.2020 - 01.2022
- Identified operation inefficiencies and implemented process improvement initiatives to enhance productivity, reduce costs and streamline workflows
- Analysed existing processes, identified bottlenecks and implemented solutions to drive operational effectiveness
- Enforced regulatory and safety standards
- Oversaw daily operations and resolved conflict between departments
Management Consultant
Deloitte
01.2017 - 01.2019
- Designed a framework that enabled mining organisations to measure the impact of ESD programmes on socio-economic development in communities
- Developed a Mining Charter III transformation plan for a mining organisation with specific focus on Employment Equity and Human Resources Development
- Undertook a macro-economic and market analysis for a steel- manufacturing business in order to assist the business to become more strategic
- Developed a strategy for digital transformation for a mining companies
Project Engineer
ETA Operations
01.2013 - 01.2016
- Worked on a demand-side energy management project for a major cement manufacturer in South Africa
- Helped a client to achieve over 3MW in monthly energy savings through energy management
- Analysed and processed production and energy data for optimal energy savings
- Travelled around the country to train small black-owned energy companies
Education
Master of Philosophy (MPhil) - Development Practice
University of Pretoria
Pretoria, South Afirca12.2025
MEng. - Mechanical Engineering (Energy Management)
North-West University
North West, South Africa12.2016
BEng. - Chemical Engineering
University of Pretoria
Pretoria, South Afirca12.2013
Skills
- Grassroots Climate Action & Waste Repurposing
- Sustainable Development Practice
- Enterprise & Supplier Development funding
- B-BBEE and CSI
- Leadership in Development Contexts
- Project Management & Operations
- Stakeholder & Community Engagement
- Research and Strategic Planning
Timeline
Volunteer - Sustainability & Community Development
Earthly Touch Foundation
02.2025 - Current
General Manager
VANEDI
01.2024 - Current
ESD Practitioner
Dipeolwana
01.2022 - 01.2023
Operations Manager
Indalo Water Technologies
01.2020 - 01.2022
Management Consultant
Deloitte
01.2017 - 01.2019
Project Engineer
ETA Operations
01.2013 - 01.2016
Master of Philosophy (MPhil) - Development Practice
University of Pretoria
MEng. - Mechanical Engineering (Energy Management)
North-West University
BEng. - Chemical Engineering
University of Pretoria
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