In the midst of Khayelitsa, the largest and most dangerous township in Cape Town, lies the Waldorf School Zenzeleni, which was founded in 1999 by a group of parents whose children attended the Noluthando Day Care Centre, run by kindergarten teacher Mavis Mbaba. She received her Waldorf education training through the Centre for Creative Education (CCE) in Cape Town. After starting with one classroom, they have continuously expanded to currently 224 students, from kindergarten to class 7. Several teachers from the CCE now work at Zenzeleni as class teachers.

South Africa is a country with great disparities. For many families, Waldorf education is a choice because of the English-language education, small classes, and additional subjects that prepare children for a better future.

The education at Zenzeleni is largely based on Christianity due to the Christian background of the parents. However, the teachers weave stories from the various cultures that enrich the country and from other countries on the continent. They call it an 'African influenced Waldorf curriculum'. Teachers struggle with the balance between the Waldorf curriculum and the academic curriculum. Because they are partly dependent on government subsidies, it is necessary that they comply with the national, regular curriculum in addition to the Waldorf subjects.

Zenzeleni is a nice and safe place for all those children who grow up in a world full of violence and poverty. At school, they find safety and security. The richness of the narrative material and the artistic subjects make the children flourish. The teachers are a living example of living and working together from different backgrounds, beliefs, and income levels.