Johannesburg – Ronald McDonald House Charities South Africa (RMHC SA), a global non-profit organisation dedicated to supporting families of seriously ill or injured children, has appointed renowned development strategist and gender equity advocate Matshepo Msibi as its new Chief Executive Officer.
The appointment signals a decisive new chapter for the organisation, which has quietly and powerfully supported thousands of families during their most vulnerable moments.
Under Msibi’s leadership, RMHC SA is now poised to expand its footprint and extend its reach, with an ambitious vision to establish an RMHC House at every major public hospital across the country in the next ten years.
“I am honoured to lead RMHC at this important time,” Msibi said.
“My vision is to build a strong team and grow the organization so that families across the country can access our programmes.
In the next ten years, we aim to have a presence in every major public hospital in the country, turning bold ambition into tangible impact.”
Founded on the belief that no family should face a child’s illness alone, RMHC SA provides a home-away-from-home for families with children undergoing critical medical care.
Its Ronald McDonald House in Parktown, located inside the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital, has supported over 5500 families since its opening, offering free accommodation, meals, emotional support, and the comfort of staying close to their hospitalised children.
The organisation also runs two Family Rooms at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital which has served more than 40 000 mothers to date.
Globally, RMHC uses data-driven models and health impact algorithms to determine the best placement for its Houses and services — based on hospital case load, travel distance for families, and emotional stress indicators.
This same method has informed the charity’s growth strategy in South Africa, identifying key public health institutions where RMHC’s impact would be most Impactful.
“Her leadership comes at a crucial time, as the Board has set out a bold and ambitious strategy to significantly deepen our impact on children and families across South Africa,” said Nicolas Marcel, Chairperson of RMHC SA.
“In our search, we were looking for someone with the right mix of experience, capability, and heart to bring this vision to life — and we believe Matshepo is exactly that person.”
A seasoned leader across the nonprofit, government, and international development sectors, Msibi previously served as CEO of the Starfish Greathearts Foundation, Executive Director of the Businesswomen’s Association of South Africa, and Chief Director for Strategy at the Gauteng Provincial Treasury.
She has consulted for the UN Women and the International Trade Centre, and currently serves on the Presidential Task Team on Women’s Economic Empowerment.
She is also a TED speaker, coach, mentor, and a globally connected changemaker — having been part of the Fortune/US State Department Global Women’s Mentorship Programme and the Vital Voices Global Leadership Network.
Her appointment not only brings a wealth of operational and strategic expertise, but a deeply personal understanding of the importance of support, dignity, and proximity in healing.
As RMHC SA pursues national expansion, Msibi’s leadership is set to strengthen the organisation’s focus on data-informed impact, grounded in empathy-driven, family-centered care.
“When a child is hospitalised, it impacts the entire family,” Msibi added. “Our mission goes beyond providing beds or meals — it’s about bringing comfort, dignity, and hope in the midst of turmoil.”
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