The South African National Council (SANC), which has served as the overarching management structure for ISKCON in South Africa since the late 1980s, is undergoing sweeping changes in its structure and approach. The aim of the transformation is to “more fully realize Srila Prabhupada’s vision for Krishna Consciousness in South Africa and to present Krishna Consciousness in a very dynamic and relevant way to all people of our country.”

The effort began about a year ago when the GBC National Secretaries for South Africa put together the “transformation committee,” a group of six devotees from different backgrounds, and asked them to help make SANC more inclusive and representative of the demographics of the country across both race and gender.

With the support of the GBCs, the transformation committee expanded the scope to consider other possible improvements as well. After a careful, comprehensive and deliberate consultation process that took over a year, the team proposed a new management system for ISKCON South Africa, with a clear set of principles for structure and organization. Within it there’s a deliberate focus on cultivating a positive culture and value system based on Vaishnava etiquette, that engenders inclusion and belonging. It also proposes an exceptional ISKCON experience for anyone coming into contact with the society.  

SANC also wants to ensure that the priorities of ISKCON South Africa take into account the needs of all constituent groups. And the Council hopes to train and develop as many devotees as possible to take up leadership.

“We have so many amazing, talented devotees from diverse backgrounds, who are so skilled, experienced, and spiritually mature,” says Anuradha Dasi, who is a member of the transformation committee and co-chair of SANC along with Radhe Shyam Das. “We felt strongly the need to create opportunity for a new, younger generation of leaders to come to the fore.”

In addition, women, who are the majority of the South African congregation, make up over 50% of the new SANC leadership. And there is significant representation – over 40% — of local African devotees.

(left to right) SANC leads Vraja Vilasini Devi Dasi – Finances and Planning; Navina Radhika Devi Dasi – Strategy; and Nilacala Devi Dasi – Communications

“We also acknowledged the need to access the support and guidance of the experienced leaders who have given so much over the years, and who can provide inspiration and example,” explains Radhe Shyam. “So we formed the Advisory Committee.”

The spirit of all the change is “effective decentralization,” a top light, bottom-heavy approach, with leaders serving in a facilitative, enabling mood, rather than in a directive manner. “We want to encourage thoughtfulness, innovation and creativity, while providing support through a flexible, responsive structure,” says Anuradha.

This is evident in the fact that the 18 members of the SANC are called leads, rather than heads or any other authoritarian word – implying that they are leading a team of devotees in service. They come from diverse backgrounds and include engineers, accountants, educators, lawyers, business, government and corporate managers, and temple presidents.  

“They have a lot of experience managing our centers and temples in the country — we’ve been able to harness the best of both worlds with all of these devotees,” says Radhe Shyam Das.

Each lead takes care of a different “management portfolio.” First, there are co-chairs Anuradha and Radhe Shyam, who facilitate, empower and support the portolio teams. There are also regional leads for different South African provinces, and representative chairs for the National Temple Leaders’ Forum, Advisory Committee, and Food For Life.

Next there are leads for finance and planning, legal, communications, community relations, digitalization, inreach, outreach, education and training, and sustainability.

SANC leads Lila Shakti Devi Dasi – Community Relationships; and Mukundanghri Das – Sustainability

The new structure has a specific focus on strategic planning and culture, lead by Navina Radhika Dasi; digitalization and using technology more effectively, lead by Bhaktin Bontle; sustainability and the environment, lead by Mukundanghri Das; and community relations, lead by Lila Shakti Dasi.

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