Sipho Manci | Lead: Social Infrastructure
Knowledge Pele

Sipho Manci is a purpose-driven infrastructure leader with seven years of experience at Knowledge Pele, where he has steadily risen through the ranks to become the Lead: Social Infrastructure. With a BCom in Economics and Econometrics, Sipho brings a deeply analytical and community-conscious approach to infrastructure development, specialising in energy, water and sanitation, ICT, and security solutions in under-resourced areas. He currently oversees the development, management, and monitoring of strategic social infrastructure initiatives across Knowledge Pele’s flagship projects (CPV1, CWF) as well as for external clients such as Ponahalo De Beers Trust and the FirstRand Empowerment Foundation. His work has delivered meaningful change - from implementing critical Solar PV installations at Katlehong Special School to negotiating the national rollout of Solar PV and water systems across 200 clinics. He drives key processes, including:

• End-to-end project development, execution and monitoring
• Financial management and risk mitigation
• Managing service providers and multiparty stakeholders
• Ensuring project alignment with community needs and client development goals

Sipho is recognised not only for his technical project management expertise but for his values-driven leadership. A long-service award recipient, he is also an active member of the Pele soccer team. Guided by a philosophy rooted in curiosity, consistency, and respect, Sipho believes that “true development is freedom” - a belief he lives daily through his commitment to building community infrastructure that empowers lives.