Advancing the just energy transition

Mainstream has been advancing a just energy transition in Africa since 2009, as a developer, constructor and operator of wind and solar assets.

Our collaborations with global and local partners have added more than 1.2 GW of clean, reliable generating capacity to the continent’s energy mix in Egypt, Senegal and South Africa.

Now our focus is our multi-gigawatt pipeline of wind and solar PV assets for public and private off-takers.

BY THE NUMBERS

100+

colleagues

12+GW

in development

610MW

O&M contracts with Lekela Power (South Africa)

About Lekela Power – one of Africa’s largest renewable energy generators

Lekela Power was founded in 2015 by Mainstream and Actis, a global responsible investment firm, to help deliver sustainable, reliable and competitively-priced electricity on the African continent.

It has achieved that goal by delivering over 1 GW and is reputedly one of Africa’s largest pure-play renewable Independent Power Producers’ (IPP).  In 2022, the sale of Lekela Power was announced and reached close in Q1, 2023.

Africa Leadership Team

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Hein Reyneke

General Manager, Africa

Titania Stefanus Zincke

Chief Operating Officer, South Africa

Lindsay Burgess

Head of HR and Business Services, South Africa

Gesie Theron

Gesie Theron

Head of Development, South Africa

Matthew Simpson

Head of Growth, Africa

Candice McDonald

Head of Finance, South Africa

Hein Reyneke

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Hein Reyneke

General Manager, Africa

Hein assumed the position of General Manager in 2016. He has direct responsibility for projects in development, construction and operations including taking the lead on Mainstream’s Africa initiatives late in 2016.

Since Hein joined Mainstream, his roles have included project and business development through to construction. Having worked in renewable energy since 2008, Hein has vast knowledge and experience in the industry.

Hein trained as a mechanical engineer and built a successful career in delivering complex projects and new business initiatives leading multi-disciplinary teams of professionals. His experience covers rewarding enterprises in the automotive, rail, marine and energy industries. He has been one of the pioneers of the South African renewable energy industry and a board member of the South African Wind Energy Association (SAWEA) from 2014 to 2018.

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Titania Stefanus Zincke

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Titania Stefanus Zincke

Chief Operating Officer, South Africa

Titania was appointed as Chief Operating Officer, South Africa, in January 2024 and holds the responsibility for Mainstream’s health and safety, construction, engineering and operational activities in the country. 

Titania’s appointment followed her role as Mainstream Asset Management South Africa General Manager, where she led MAMSA in successfully operating 610MW of wind farm projects.  Titania joined Mainstream in April 2019, when she led the Economic Development and Socio-Economic Development function for South Africa. 

Prior to joining Mainstream, she worked 19 years for the largest JSE listed fishing company in Africa in a variety of roles, such as Group Sustainability Manager, Environmental & Social Risk Director, Human Resource Manager, SHER Manager and Fishmeal & Oil Plant Manager.  Before this, Titana worked as Process and Plant engineer in the fertiliser industry. 

She holds an MTech degree in Business Administration and a BTech degree in Chemical Engineering. She is Certified Director and a member of the Institute of Directors in South Africa. 

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Lindsay Burgess

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Lindsay Burgess

Head of HR and Business Services, South Africa

Lindsay joined the Mainstream team in October 2018.  Her core function is supporting all employees in the South African business to ensure HR best practice. Previously, she consulted to Mainstream as a Recruitment Manager from 2012 to 2018. 

Lindsay has over 18 years’ experience in the recruitment and executive search consulting profession and developed core skills in interviewing, assessments, business consulting, research and project management. 

She holds a Certificate in Human Resource Management from the University of Cape Town and a Diploma in Public Relations and Business Communication from Damelin College, Cape Town. 

Lindsay is currently studying a Social Sciences degree, majoring in Psychology and HR at the South African College of Applied Psychology. 

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Gesie Theron

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Gesie Theron

Gesie Theron

Head of Development, South Africa

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Matthew Simpson

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Matthew Simpson

Head of Growth, Africa

Matthew joined Mainstream in 2021 as Head of Commercial, Africa. In this role, Matthew led the commercial function to secure PPA’s for wind and solar PV projects, involving tendering, structuring, negotiation, due diligence and ultimately close. In 2023, Matt was promoted to Head of Growth, Africa, continuing to lead the Commercial team into the next phase of Mainstream’s strategy of growing our presence in the private market, and energy trading.

Before Mainstream, Matthew worked at Eaglestone Capital Advisory, a project finance advisory boutique. During this period, Matthew advised several power and infrastructure clients on several corporate and project finance transactions across Africa. Previously, he was employed by Macquarie Capital Johannesburg, as part of the infrastructure sector team specialising in financial modelling, transaction and debt and equity procurement advisory.

Matthew is a Chartered Accountant, and a member of the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants; having completed his articles at KPMG Johannesburg in the financial services sector, bank audit.

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Candice McDonald

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Candice McDonald

Head of Finance, South Africa

Candice joined Mainstream in April 2014 as Financial Accountant responsible for managing the finances of the Round 3 projects through the construction phase from financial close into operations.

She was promoted to Finance Manager in April 2020 during which time she looked after the full finance function of the Round 4 projects, assisting with the financial close process and taking them through construction to commercial operation in late 2020. 

She started her career in London working for a Music Publishing Company followed by an internal finance role at PricewaterhouseCoopers before relocating back to South Africa and joining Mainstream. 

Candice studied a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Financial Accounting at the University of Stellenbosch and gained her CIMA qualification in 2011.

Related Projects

Our team’s dedication to our country, coupled with our solid track record here, underpins our commitment to delivering renewable energy here in South Africa for many more decades to come.

Hein Reyneke – General Manager, Africa

CONTACT US

Cape Town Office

4th Floor Mariendahl House
Newlands on Main
Corner Main & Campground Roads
Claremont
7708, Cape Town

+27 (0)21 657 4040

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Emmet Curley

Head of Communications and Positioning