Reneilwe Malatji
GIS & Remote Sensing Specialist
Durbanville
Summary
Dynamic GIS and Remote Sensing professional with over eight years of experience in government and private sectors, including notable contributions at GCRO, Zutari, and the DWS provincial office. Expertise in spatial information systems drives organizational and digital transformation, enabling strategic, evidence-based decision-making. Proven track record in project management and controls enhances effective planning, coordination, and delivery of multidisciplinary initiatives. Recognized for strong leadership and a people-centered advisory approach, with a commitment to promoting responsible, inclusive, and sustainable technology use.
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
7
7
Languages
Work History
GIS Specialist - Digital Advisory
ZUTARI
Cape Town
01.2024 - Current
- Lead GIS and spatial data initiatives supporting digital transformation projects across public and private organizations.
- Apply project controls principles to plan, monitor, and optimize project resources, timelines, and deliverables.
- Facilitate cross-functional collaboration between technical teams and senior leadership to ensure alignment with strategic objectives.
- Develop dashboards, reports, and visualizations to guide evidence-based decision-making.
Professional Scientist: GIS and Remote Sensing & Project Control
ZUTARI
Cape Town
01.2023 - 01.2024
- Managed multidisciplinary project teams, including resource allocation, scheduling, and performance monitoring.
- Developed governance-aligned workflows for spatial data projects, ensuring compliance with organizational policies and regulatory requirements.
- Provided strategic reporting and recommendations to support divisional performance targets.
- Mentored staff and fostered capacity development across GIS and remote sensing teams.
GIS/ Remote Sensing Specialist
ZUTARI
Cape Town
01.2022 - 01.2023
- Led data assessment and modeling initiatives, including hydrological, suitability, and network analyses.
- Oversaw database creation, management, and visualization of complex spatial datasets.
- Conducted scenario simulations for disaster planning (floods, droughts, landslides), contributing to risk-informed decision-making.
GIS Technician
Department of Water and Sanitation
Cape Town
01.2019 - 01.2022
- Delivered GIS support and training to teams, ensuring proper spatial data management and utilization.
- Produced spatial reports and maps to guide water resource management and operational planning.
Spatial Data Analyst Intern
Gauteng City-Region Observatory
Johannesburg
01.2017 - 01.2018
- Captured, cleaned, and geo-referenced spatial data for urban development projects.
- Conducted geo-enrichment and map compilation to support evidence-based decision-making.
Education
Advanced Project Management -
01.2019
MSc - GIS & Remote Sensing
01.2018
BSc Honours - Geography
01.2017
BSc - Geology
01.2017
Skills
Project Management and Project Controls (GIS & Spatial Information Projects)
Stakeholder Engagement and Coordination
Digital Ethics and Responsible Use of Spatial Data
Methodology Development and Advisory Support
Spatial Data Report Production and Decision Support
End-User GIS Training and Capacity Development
Web-Based GIS Systems (ESRI) – Oversight and Application
Geodatabase Management and Data Governance
Data Collection, Integration, and Quality Assurance
Spatial Analysis and Modelling - Oversight
Analysis Workflows and Model Building
Map Compilation and Visualisation
Image Processing (Landsat / Sentinel)
Land Use and Land Cover Change Detection
RUSLE Model (Soil Loss Estimation)
Catchment Characterisation
Computation for Hydrological Models
Certification
SACNASP Pr.Sci.Nat (Geospatial Science)
Interests
Geo-Information Society of South Africa – (GISSA) Western Cape, University of Limpopo Digital Hub – Stakeholder Engagement Officer
References
- Naweed, Seralker, GIS Technician, Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS), naweed25@gmail.com, 0274070028, Department of Water and Sanitation, Previous Manager
- Jonathan, Feeke, GIS Developer, ZUTARI, jonathan.feeke@zutari.com, +27-21-5245722, (+27) 040640612, ZUTARI, Mentor
- Julian, Hendricks, Geospatial Solutions Manager (ZUTARI Digital Advisory Africa), julian.hendricks@zutari.com, +2778939614, ZUTARI, Current Manager
- Cornel, Mawhinney, Technical Director: Project Management (ZUTARI), Cornel.Mawhinney@zutari.com, +27720685671, ZUTARI, Mentor
Timeline
GIS Specialist - Digital Advisory - ZUTARI
01.2024 - Current
Professional Scientist: GIS and Remote Sensing & Project Control - ZUTARI
01.2023 - 01.2024
GIS/ Remote Sensing Specialist - ZUTARI
01.2022 - 01.2023
GIS Technician - Department of Water and Sanitation
01.2019 - 01.2022
Spatial Data Analyst Intern - Gauteng City-Region Observatory
01.2017 - 01.2018
University of Cape Town (UCT) - Advanced Project Management,
University of The Witwatersrand - MSc, GIS & Remote Sensing
University of The Witwatersrand - BSc Honours, Geography
University of The Witwatersrand - BSc, Geology