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Interactive Entertainment South Africa is a formally incorporated Non-Profit Company.
- Represent the South African Video Games Industry as an independent industry representative organisation;
- Raise the visibility and viability of the South African Video Games Industry through advocacy, research and lobbying;
- Facilitate fundraising in order to assist with economic empowerment in the South African Video Games Industry;
- Encourage collaboration between video games industry representative organisations in Africa and beyond; and
- To generally take any actions in accordance with the above which would be in the public benefit of the South African Video Games Industry.
IESA as an organisation dates back to 2015 and was formed by a group of individuals operating in the South African video games industry who saw the need for the local industry to be able to have a collective voice when speaking to government, and who could spearhead industry development initiatives.
It successfully assisted local game developers (including from previously disadvantaged backgrounds) to attend international video game conferences such as the Game Developers Conference and Gamescom over the years. It has also conducted research and released several reports on the state of the local industry and proposed ways for developing the environment. It has fostered links with other industry organisations and NGOs operating in the video games space, and was pivotal in the founding of Africa Games Week, the largest industry event on the African continent.
Whereas IESA is very much an entity focused on South Africa, its reach does expand beyond the country due to its strategic relationships with industry organisations and NGOs from other countries. Our primary services relate to assisting the local community.
Inclusivity, equality, transparency, excellence.
- Inclusivity – The industry should be open and accessible to everyone. We actively work to remove barriers to entry and support diverse voices across the industry.
- Equality – We are committed to fair and equal opportunities within the industry for all. We advocate for equitable access to funding, training, employment and industry networks
- Transparency – Trust is essential to building a strong and sustainable industry. We are committed to clear communication with our members, partners and the public.
- Excellence – Our industry is full of excellent workers who create higher quality games. We support innovation, creativity and professionalism at every level.
Our Board
The current board has several decades worth of collective experience in the law and business of video games and comprises individuals operating in both the public and private sector institutions currently involved in the local video games industry.
Dr Pieter Koornhof
Pieter holds a variety of degrees and professional accreditations in the field of law, economics and education. He has taught at both South African and UK universities on undergraduate, postgraduate and MBA level. He has lectured and published in the fields of competition law, intellectual property law, ICT law, labour law and video games. He is also a recognised expert in various fields of intellectual property by the World Intellectual Property Organisation.
He has gained experience in the video games and software industries and has also consulted with and presented workshops to firms in various industries, particularly on aspects of Competition, Computer and Digital Entertainment Law. His primary role at IESA is managing the day to day affairs of the organisation, along with aspects of corporate governance, research, policy development and stakeholder engagement.
Nicholas Hall
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Avuzwa Ntshongwana
Avuzwa Ntshongwana is an award-winning entrepreneur, empathetic leader, and the founder of South Game Studio, a dynamic black youth-owned gaming start-up. With a career dedicated to innovation and inclusivity, she designs gaming experiences that amplify diverse narratives and ensure African voices resonate on global platforms.
Beyond her studio work, Avuzwa serves as Project Manager at Digital Lab Africa/Gamehub incubation, where she leads workshops, mentors youth, and fosters collaboration across the Pan-African creative ecosystem. Her expertise spans software programming, Cloud engineering, storytelling, and emerging technologies such as VR/AR, ensuring every project is socially impactful.
Guided by a long-term vision, Avuzwa is committed to building a sustainable, inclusive creative ecosystem that empowers African youth, drives diversity in gaming, and nurtures authentic community connections through technology and storytelling.
Tiro Motlogeloa
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Vulane Mthembu
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Raymond Ledwaba
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Nicky Visentin
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Our Advisors and Volunteers
In addition to our board, we are also reliant on the goodwill and generosity of others who provide their time and expertise to us, often for free. Here are some of our current advisors:
Jesse Wrensch (Legal and Secretarial)
Jesse is a legal and compliance professional with specialised expertise in intellectual property, digital regulation, and cross‑border legal strategy. With an LLB, an LLM (cum laude), and advanced international accreditation in IP asset management, he brings a strong academic and practical foundation to the interactive entertainment sector.
Jesse has advised organisations across the video‑game, software, and digital‑creative industries, helping teams navigate regulatory requirements, strengthen compliance systems, and manage legal risk in rapidly evolving digital environments. His work includes supporting studios, platforms, and ecosystem partners with governance, policy alignment, and industry‑wide best practice.
At the organisation, Jesse leads IESA’s legal and compliance functions, contributes to policy development, and supports stakeholder engagement to ensure a responsible, competitive, and future‑focused video‑game industry.