Retired official Ian Arendse joins NoStop charity

A retired provincial government official, Ian Arendse, 63, has joined the NoStop non-profit organisation to help strengthen its services.

His main roles include contributing to governance and policy development, mentoring volunteers, and ensuring compliance and accountability, according to Charlene Miles, NoStop’s director.

“Community upliftment – especially for the vulnerable – is something very close to my heart. I have a deep desire and calling to help wherever I can, to share my experiences, skills, and knowledge. It makes no sense to take all of that with me to the grave,” he told Northern News. 

Mr Arendse holds the Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree from Stellenbosch University.

His biography states that his public service career began in December 1985, when he joined the provincial Department of Health and Wellness as a junior clerk at Lentegeur Hospital.

From 1987 until his retirement at the end of March 2022, he held several senior roles across different sections of the department. These included serving as deputy director of policy and planning at the head office in 2004, and later as deputy director of human resources and support services at Paarl Regional Hospital in 2016. 

After his retirement in 2022, he supported NoStop as a donor, Ms Miles said, adding that she had been trying to persuade him to become more actively involved in the organisation.

He then formally assumed his new role at the start of this month, July 2025.

“His decision to return to serve the community post-retirement reflects not only his deep sense of responsibility, but also his enduring passion for people and grassroots transformation,” Ms Miles said.

Mr Arendse was born and raised in Eikedal, and he is also a husband and father of two.

Reflecting on his decision to work in the hospital sector, he said he wanted to help shape environments and systems that might one day serve his own family and community.

“If you or someone close to you ever needed hospital services, wouldn’t you want the environment to be as safe, clean, and dignified as possible?” he asked.

NoStop is based in Scottsville and offers various programmes such as feeding schemes, social skills workshops, computer programmes, art and music classes, to address issues faced by youth and adults from underserved areas.