Umlazi. Where the story begins.
Her interest in development starts in the township where she grew up. Her company’s ambition holds people, skills and economic opportunity alongside the practical work of solar energy.
02 / OUR COMPANY
A South African renewable-energy
business built for responsible growth.
iThandimbvelo is a Black woman-owned solar-energy company serving businesses, organisations and project partners in South Africa, with a separate residential offering in Ottawa. The company provides solar PV, battery-storage, maintenance and monitoring services and builds project-specific partnerships for larger opportunities.
THE COMPANY SO FAR
Energy resilience today. Opportunity for tomorrow.
Founded by Cleopatra Masinga, iThandimbvelo was created around the belief that clean energy and sustainable development belong in the same conversation.
- Capabilities
- Solar PV, inverter and battery solutions, system maintenance, repairs, performance monitoring and project collaboration.
- Direction
- Toward increasingly capable commercial and infrastructure delivery — supported by the technical relationships, project structures and expertise each opportunity requires, and by helping create greater participation for women and young people in the renewable-energy economy.
Our beginning2010
Founded in South Africa.
Looking toward a shared future.
- South Africa
- Commercial, institutional and infrastructure solar.
- Ottawa, Canada
- Residential solar PV, battery backup and system care.
FOUNDER & LEADERSHIP
Cleopatra Masinga
Founder · Renewable energy & sustainable development
Reliable energy creates the foundation from which businesses, communities and opportunities can grow.
Born and raised in Umlazi, KwaZulu-Natal, Cleopatra Masinga brings an international-development perspective to the renewable-energy sector.
Her academic background in international development, environment and climate has shaped a view of energy that goes beyond technology alone.
Through iThandimbvelo, that perspective is applied practically: understanding what people and organisations need from their energy systems today, while building toward broader participation and opportunity within the green economy.
Academic foundation- BSc in International Development Studies, University of East Anglia, 2009; a Master’s degree in International Development and Environment.
International outlook- A company working across two markets — South Africa and Canada — with connections into international development environments.
Areas of focus- Renewable energy, sustainable development, and opportunities for women and young people.
THE WOMAN BEHIND THE WORK
Reliable power and real economic opportunity belong in the same conversation.
Cleopatra Masinga founded iThandimbvelo Solar Energy Solutions to put clean, dependable energy at the centre of a larger ambition — one where households gain resilience, businesses gain certainty and communities gain opportunity.
Her grounding in international development and environmental studies shapes how the company works: every system begins with the people and the place it is meant to serve. It is a practical business with a purpose that reaches beyond the roof.
Cleopatra MasingaFounder · iThandimbvelo Solar Energy Solutions
THE FOUNDER’S PERSPECTIVE
Leadership shaped by renewable
energy and sustainable development.
Cleopatra Masinga founded iThandimbvelo in 2010. Her background in international development and environmental studies informs the company’s focus on practical energy solutions, responsible partnerships and wider participation in the renewable-energy economy.
A wider lens on energy.
Her studies in international development and environment helped shape that outlook. Now based in Canada, she runs residential solar work there alongside the South African business — two markets, one company, and practical experience moving between them.
Building the next chapter.
Established in 2010, iThandimbvelo is now seeking the technical and commercial relationships to grow its delivery capacity. Alongside this, Cleopatra’s longer-term vision is to help open pathways for women and young people in the renewable-energy economy.
A CONNECTION ACROSS CONTINENTS
Local understanding.
A broader outlook.
South African roots and active Canadian work create a foundation for knowledge exchange and practical collaboration across both markets.
ROOTED IN SOUTH AFRICA
Built in South Africa.
Connected to a wider world.
Registered and rooted in South Africa, iThandimbvelo builds its capability around the country’s evolving energy needs, delivering with vetted local partners — while solar work in Canada, where our founder is based, adds practical international experience to how we specify, install and support every system.
Illustrative brand artwork
THE FUTURE WE WANT TO HELP BUILD
More capability.
More participation.
More possibility.
Our longer-term ambition extends beyond individual installations — to help build technical capability, strong delivery partnerships and meaningful pathways for more women and young people to participate in renewable energy. These ambitions will be developed responsibly, with the appropriate partners, structures, standards and accreditation.
Women in energy
Supporting greater participation through enterprise, leadership and skills — the commitment at the heart of the vision.
Explore a development partnership