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VT VERITECH
Confidential
Request for Proposals — Website Redesign
Zenex
Foundation
Website Redesign 2026
A fully evidence-informed redesign of the Zenex Foundation website — architecture, UX, development, performance measurement, and ongoing support. Delivered by November 2026.
Submitted by
Veritech Digital (Pty) Ltd
Registration
2026/459072/07
BBBEE Status
Level 1 EME — 100% Black-Owned
Date
June 2026
Contact
info@veritechdigital.co.za
Website
veritechdigital.co.za
VT VERITECH Cover Letter
Introduction
A proposal built on
your own evidence

Dear Mr Cele and the Zenex Foundation team,

Thank you for the opportunity to submit a proposal for the redesign of the Zenex Foundation website. We have studied the Request for Proposals carefully, alongside the independent UX Research and Audit report and the Strategy 2030 summary, and we are confident that we are well-placed to deliver a website that reflects the quality and depth of Zenex's work in the education sector.

What struck us most in reviewing the materials is that the core problem is already well-diagnosed. The UX audit is thorough and precise: strong subject-matter content held back by weak information architecture, limited filtering, inconsistent navigation, and a Knowledge Hub that makes discovery harder than it should be. The brief is not to reimagine Zenex. It is to build a digital environment that finally does justice to the evidence and thought leadership Zenex already produces.

That is exactly the kind of problem we are built for, and it is the kind of work we find most meaningful. We have spent our careers building digital infrastructure for organisations whose work matters: foundations, NGOs, institutions that generate knowledge and need it to reach the right people. We approached this proposal with genuine investment in getting it right.

What follows is a six-phase approach that addresses each finding in the UX audit directly. It delivers a fully redesigned WordPress site with a rebuilt Knowledge Hub, implements performance measurement so Zenex can track the reach of its knowledge outputs, and remediates the critical security gaps we identified on the current site during our pre-submission review.

We are committed to delivering a fully revised website by the end of November 2026, within the approved budget, and are available for a presentation to the Zenex team at any stage of the shortlisting process.

This proposal is submitted in accordance with the RFP deadline of 25 June 2026. Should Veritech Digital be invited to present, we are fully prepared and available on 10 July 2026 and look forward to walking the Zenex team through our thinking in person.

Ashlin Sami
Founder & Lead Developer
Veritech Digital (Pty) Ltd
info@veritechdigital.co.za  |  veritechdigital.co.za
Veritech Digital (Pty) Ltd — 2026/459072/07 2
VT VERITECH Pre-Submission Site Assessment
Independent assessment
What we found before writing this proposal

Before preparing this proposal, Veritech Digital conducted an independent pre-submission assessment of the current Zenex Foundation website using our proprietary CRO Intelligence Platform. The findings below represent a cross-reference of the independent UX Research & Audit commissioned by Zenex, our own technical scan, and a UX performance audit based on observable site behaviour. The result is a complete picture of where the site stands today — and exactly what needs to change.

Summary finding
Our assessment found that the current site treats all four audience segments identically, buries its most-visited content behind an unusable Knowledge Hub, and gives first-time visitors no real reason to engage past a single scroll. Several of these findings align with the independent UX audit commissioned by Zenex; others go further. The one confirmed technical metric we can cite directly is an F security rating on securityheaders.com, verified independently on 10 June 2026.
Confirmed by both the UX audit & our assessment
Knowledge Hub — flat, unfiltered list
HIGH
100+ publications with no faceted search, no filters, no metadata. The most-visited section is simultaneously the top exit page — a clear value-delivery failure.
UX Audit + Veritech CRO Intelligence Platform
No audience segmentation or pathways
HIGH
Homepage treats researchers, educators, government officials, and donors identically. Each audience has a different job to do — a government official wants policy-relevant evidence; a donor wants impact proof; a researcher wants data access. One generic hero serves none of them well.
UX Audit + Veritech CRO Intelligence Platform
Missing metadata on publications
HIGH
Publications show only title and year. No author, topic, file type, summary, or audience tag — users cannot assess relevance without clicking through.
UX Audit + Veritech CRO Intelligence Platform
No back-to-results navigation
HIGH
Users arrive on publication detail pages with no clear path back to filtered results. Violates Nielsen's User Control & Freedom heuristic — confirmed dead end.
UX Audit + Veritech CRO Intelligence Platform
Mobile experience not optimised
HIGH
A significant proportion of traffic arrives on mobile. A flat list of 100+ publications is functionally unusable on a mobile viewport. No evidence of mobile-first design — a large share of mobile sessions are likely wasted as a result.
UX Audit + Veritech CRO Intelligence Platform
F security rating — all 6 headers missing
HIGH
Strict-Transport-Security, Content-Security-Policy, X-Frame-Options, X-Content-Type-Options, Referrer-Policy, Permissions-Policy — all absent. Critical trust issue for institutional audiences.
Technical scan + Veritech CRO Intelligence Platform
Additional findings from our pre-submission assessment
Zero lead capture on all exit pages NEW
HIGH
Knowledge Hub, Research, and Publications — all top exit pages — have no lead capture mechanism. High-intent visitors leave without any way for Zenex to re-engage them.
Veritech CRO Intelligence Platform
No primary CTA guiding visitor action NEW
HIGH
No dominant call to action on the homepage. First-time visitors have no guided next step — exploration leads to the Knowledge Hub dead end or an exit. Without a clear primary CTA, visitors default to exploration through a weak navigation structure.
Veritech CRO Intelligence Platform
No trust signals for institutional audiences NEW
HIGH
No NPO registration number, no partner logos, no impact statistics, no board credibility markers above the fold. Government officials and donors operate in high-trust environments — this gap is mission-critical.
Veritech CRO Intelligence Platform
No social proof or citation signals NEW
MEDIUM
No testimonials from government partners, no citation counts, no media mentions. For policy-maker and donor audiences, peer endorsement is the primary trust driver.
Veritech CRO Intelligence Platform
Site reads as static archive NEW
MEDIUM
No "Latest research," no dates on publications, no upcoming events. Researchers have no reason to subscribe or return. Recency signals are a core driver of repeat visits.
Veritech CRO Intelligence Platform
Generic contact architecture NEW
MEDIUM
A single generic contact form serves four distinct audience types with different needs. Generic forms convert at 1–3%; audience-specific forms convert at 3–8%.
Veritech CRO Intelligence Platform
Every finding above is addressed in this proposal. The six additional findings from our pre-submission assessment have been worked into the UX design and development phases — covering audience segmentation on the homepage hero, a trust bar, inline lead capture on the Knowledge Hub, a "Latest from Zenex" section, audience-specific CTAs, and segmented contact forms. Security headers will be remediated as part of the WordPress development phase. Our approach responds to the brief and to the full picture of what the site actually needs.
Veritech Digital (Pty) Ltd — 2026/459072/07 3
VT VERITECH Agency Profile
Who we are
Veritech Digital

Veritech Digital is a Johannesburg-based digital agency specialising in web development, UX design, and performance measurement. We work with purpose-driven organisations — foundations, NGOs, and institutions — that need their digital presence to match the quality of their work. We build websites that don't just look credible. They make content discoverable, audiences engaged, and impact measurable.

We are a lean, senior-led team. Every project is owned and delivered by the same senior specialists from discovery to launch — no account managers in the middle, no handoffs to juniors. The leads you see in this proposal are the people who build your site.

Our team
AS
Ashlin Sami
Founder & Lead — Web Development, UX & Strategy
Ashlin leads all web development, UX design, information architecture, and project delivery at Veritech Digital. With a Bachelor of Information Technology in Business Information Systems and over a decade of experience across agency and freelance environments, Ashlin brings full-stack capability to every engagement — from discovery and wireframing through to WordPress and Shopify development, custom plugin builds, AI automations, security implementation, and CMS training.
WordPress Shopify Custom WP Plugins AI Automations UX & IA UI Design PHP Cloudflare Security Accessibility Project Management
TM
Tumelo Mabena
Data Specialist — GA4 & Performance Measurement
Tumelo leads all analytics implementation and measurement strategy at Veritech Digital. Specialising in GA4 configuration, event tracking, and data visualisation, he ensures every site we build is equipped to generate clean, actionable insight — giving clients a clear view of how their audiences engage. Backed by an internationally obtained BEng in Computer Science (SAQA NQF 8) and over 5 years across agency and freelance environments.
GA4 Event Tracking Analytics Dashboards Performance Reporting Data Visualisation BEng Computer Science (SAQA NQF 8)
BBBEE Status: Level 1 EME — 100% Black-Owned Veritech Digital (Pty) Ltd is a 100% Black-owned Exempt Micro Enterprise, qualifying for Level 1 BBBEE recognition status under the B-BBEE Codes of Good Practice — the highest recognition level, with 135% procurement recognition. A current BBBEE affidavit is available on request.
Veritech Digital (Pty) Ltd — 2026/459072/07 4
VT VERITECH Relevant Experience
Track record
Relevant experience

Every project below required us to solve a problem similar to one in this brief — complex content architecture, difficult navigation, security remediation, or technical handover to a non-technical team. We don't list these to tick boxes; we list them because the work speaks directly to what Zenex needs.

National Automotive Brand
Full WordPress development engagement including custom post types, complex API integrations, advanced filtering systems, dealer routing logic, and form-based data capture — delivered on a high-traffic national brand site.
Relevant to: WordPress custom development, complex filtering, content architecture
Facilities Management Company
WordPress redesign including full security header implementation (achieving A-grade on securityheaders.com), a dynamic blog and news system with category filtering, and a custom routing system across multiple service pages.
Relevant to: Security implementation, content filtering systems, WordPress development
Premium Skincare Brand
Managed a comprehensive technical handover of a WordPress site including Cloudflare configuration, hosting infrastructure, DNS management, and full documentation of all technical systems — delivered to a strict timeline.
Relevant to: WordPress infrastructure, documentation, technical handover & training
Retail Fashion Brand
UX-led navigation redesign including custom drawer navigation, product detail page restructuring, improved information hierarchy, and URL architecture — improving content discoverability across a large product catalogue.
Relevant to: UX redesign, navigation architecture, information hierarchy
Multi-Brand Building Materials Retailer
Multi-brand WordPress development across two sites including complex form systems, CRM integration, conditional routing logic, and a comprehensive developer documentation suite published for the client team.
Relevant to: Multi-stakeholder delivery, documentation, CMS training materials
Veritech CRO Intelligence Platform AI (Veritech Digital)
Built and deployed an AI-powered web intelligence platform using Next.js, TypeScript, and the Anthropic API — featuring custom dashboards, data visualisation, PDF report exports, and a user-centred interface designed for non-technical users.
Relevant to: Technical depth, modern development capability, data-driven UX
Veritech Digital (Pty) Ltd — 2026/459072/07 5
VT VERITECH Our Approach
How we will deliver
Our approach

Our approach is built directly on the materials Zenex provided: the UX Research and Audit, and the Strategy 2030 document. Rather than making assumptions about what the site needs, we worked from what the evidence already shows. What is working, what is not, and what each of Zenex's five core audiences actually needs from the redesign. Each audience has a distinct content journey. Government officials need clear policy implications and evidence summaries, not academic abstracts. The redesigned IA will reflect that explicitly.

Phase 01 Discovery & Information Architecture Weeks 1–3
We will begin with a structured content and technical audit of the existing site, building on the findings of the independent UX report. This includes a full inventory of the Knowledge Hub content, existing taxonomy, metadata coverage, and navigation patterns. A technical scan will also be conducted to identify security and performance issues requiring remediation as part of the build.
Informed by the audit: The current Knowledge Hub uses broad, overlapping category labels and presents items sequentially with only a title and year visible. We will develop a refined taxonomy with multi-tagging support, allowing publications to be correctly cross-referenced across topics, audiences, and content types.
Five user journeys will be mapped — researcher, educator, donor, policymaker, and government official (DBE) — to ensure the IA reflects how each group navigates and discovers content. Government stakeholders will receive a distinct journey prioritising policy summaries, evidence briefs, and direct links to sector-level impact rather than academic abstracts.
On content migration: Veritech Digital will include a full metadata enrichment pass across all existing Knowledge Hub publications as part of this engagement, at no additional cost. This ensures the new filters, search, and taxonomy work at full capacity from day one rather than only for newly added content post-launch. Each publication will be reviewed and enriched with the new metadata fields: topic tags, audience tags, author, file type, and summary. The total scope will be confirmed during discovery once we have a full content count.
Content & technical audit Revised sitemap Taxonomy & metadata schema 5 user journey maps Full metadata enrichment — all existing publications Pre-launch content QA
Phase 02 UX Design & Wireframing Weeks 4–6
With the IA confirmed, we will produce wireframes for all key pages: homepage, Knowledge Hub landing, publication detail page, About, Funding Approach, and the Grants section. Each wireframe will address the specific navigation and contextual discovery failures identified in both the independent UX audit and our pre-submission site assessment.
Informed by both audits: Users reported getting stuck on publication detail pages with no clear path back to filtered results. Every document page will include persistent breadcrumbs, a back-to-results link, and related content suggestions. The homepage hero will be redesigned with audience segmentation — a clear four-pathway selector for researchers, educators, government officials, and donors — replacing the current generic mission statement that gives first-time visitors no clear entry point. A primary CTA will be established per audience type, and a trust bar (NPO registration, founding year, partner logos, impact statistics) will be positioned below the navigation to address the credibility gap identified for institutional audiences.
A "Latest from Zenex" section will be designed for the homepage — three publication cards showing title, date, topic tag, and abstract — providing the recency and momentum signals currently absent from the site. Audience-specific contact forms will be wireframed for all four audience types, replacing the current generic contact architecture.
Wireframes — 8 key page types Homepage audience segmentation Audience-specific CTAs Trust bar design Latest from Zenex section Audience-specific contact forms Navigation & breadcrumb patterns Interactive Figma prototype Stakeholder review session
Phase 03 UI Design & Design System Weeks 6–8
We will develop a refined visual design that builds on and preserves the existing Zenex brand. The established orange and purple colour palette, full-width photography, and visual identity all remain central to the redesign. What changes is the structure around them: stronger visual hierarchy, consistent component patterns, audience-specific entry points, and clear signposting throughout. A complete component library will be delivered covering all reusable elements, forming the foundation for both development and long-term content consistency. Before development begins, we will build an interactive Figma prototype of the approved designs so Zenex can review and sign off on the full experience before a single line of code is written.
Informed by the audit: Page-level UI patterns currently vary across the site, increasing cognitive load. A component library will standardise all repeating elements — publication cards, filter panels, CTA buttons, and navigation components — ensuring consistency across every page.
Full visual design Component library Responsive layout system WCAG 2.1 AA compliance
Veritech Digital (Pty) Ltd — 2026/459072/07 6
VT VERITECH Our Approach (continued)
Phase 04 WordPress Development Weeks 8–16
Development will be carried out on the existing WordPress CMS. The current site uses the Divi page builder, but the proposed redesign requires a custom WordPress theme to deliver the full functionality at the required standard. Divi's visual builder constraints make it unsuitable for the filtering architecture, custom post types, and rich metadata the Knowledge Hub needs. The custom theme will be built directly from the approved design system, ensuring pixel-accurate implementation of every component while all existing content remains intact and manageable through WordPress.
Informed by the audit: The Knowledge Hub is currently a flat, unfiltered list. The rebuild will introduce faceted filtering by topic, content type, year, and audience — with a prominent search bar, browse-by-topic tiles on the landing view, and rich metadata (author, file type, reading length, summary) on every publication card. Each publication will display clear, explicit download affordances — labelled "Download PDF" or "Open in browser" — resolving the file behaviour ambiguity flagged in the audit's Error Prevention findings. Researchers will gain citation export options (formatted references and Zotero-compatible export), addressing the audit's Flexibility & Efficiency finding directly.
All critical security headers will be implemented and configured as part of the build, resolving the current gaps across Strict-Transport-Security, Content-Security-Policy, X-Frame-Options, X-Content-Type-Options, Referrer-Policy, and Permissions-Policy. A post-launch security header scan will be included in the handover report.
An inline lead capture block will be added to the Knowledge Hub landing page and all publication detail pages. It's a lightweight two-field form (Name + Email) with the CTA: "Get new research delivered." This addresses a critical gap we identified in our pre-submission assessment: all three top exit pages currently have zero lead capture. High-intent visitors — researchers, educators, and government officials — are leaving with no way for Zenex to re-engage them. This is included in the development phase at no additional cost.
SEO and structured data. A research foundation's publications need to be discoverable well beyond the website itself. We will implement clean URL structures, optimised page titles and meta descriptions, canonical tags, and XML sitemaps across all Knowledge Hub content. We will also implement schema.org structured data (ScholarlyArticle and Report markup) on all publications, making Zenex's research more likely to surface in Google rich results and to be cited by AI research tools such as ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Gemini when policymakers and researchers ask education-related questions. This extends Zenex's thought leadership reach beyond its existing audience.
Custom WordPress theme Knowledge Hub with faceted search Browse-by-topic landing tiles Rich publication metadata Clear download affordances Citation export (Zotero-compatible) Contextual navigation Security header implementation SEO — URL structure, meta, canonical Schema.org structured data Inline lead capture on Knowledge Hub Cross-device QA & testing
Phase 05 Performance Measurement Weeks 14–16
Our data specialist will conduct a full audit and reconfiguration of the existing GA4 property, already installed on the site, aligned to the new site architecture. For an evidence-led organisation like Zenex, the website should generate the same quality of insight it produces in its research: clean, structured, actionable data about how audiences engage with knowledge outputs.
Why this matters for Zenex: Strategy 2030 positions thought leadership and evidence dissemination as central to Zenex's mission. GA4 event tracking on Knowledge Hub interactions — document downloads, filter usage, topic engagement, and referral sources — will give the team a clear picture of which content is reaching which audiences.
GA4 audit & cleanup Custom event tracking Knowledge Hub interaction tracking Analytics dashboard Team handover session
Phase 06 Training, Handover & Ongoing Support Week 17 — November 2026
Before launch, we will deliver a live CMS training session for Zenex's internal team covering all new templates, the Knowledge Hub content management workflow, taxonomy management, and component usage. A written CMS guide will be provided as a permanent reference.
After launch, an optional monthly retainer is available at R12,000/month (10 hours). This covers WordPress core, theme and plugin updates, security monitoring and monthly header scans, Knowledge Hub taxonomy management, minor UX iterations, and a monthly analytics summary report so the Zenex team has clear visibility of content performance and audience engagement each month.
Live CMS training session Written CMS guide Maintenance cost structure document Optional monthly retainer — R12,000/month
Veritech Digital (Pty) Ltd — 2026/459072/07 7
VT VERITECH Project Timeline
Delivery plan
Project timeline

The project is scoped for delivery across 17 weeks from appointment (mid-July) to launch (end of November 2026), aligned to Zenex's stated deadline. Key review and approval gates are built into each phase to ensure Zenex's team remains in control of direction throughout.

July
August
September
October
Nov
Week
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
Ph 1 — Discovery & IA
Ph 2 — UX Design
Ph 3 — UI & Design System
Ph 4 — WordPress Dev
Ph 5 — Performance Meas.
Ph 6 — Training & Launch
Project management
Milestones
IA & sitemap
approved
Prototype
approved
Design
approved
UAT & content
migration
🚀 Launch
Discovery & IA
UX Design
UI & Design System
Development
Performance Measurement
Training & Launch
Project management
Approval gate
Site launch
Approval gates — Three formal review points are built into the schedule: (1) IA and sitemap sign-off at end of Week 3, before wireframing begins; (2) Figma prototype approval at end of Week 6, before visual design begins; (3) design system approval at end of Week 8, before development begins. User Acceptance Testing and content migration run in parallel during Weeks 14–16, with launch readiness confirmed before the end of November 2026. Should discovery and approvals proceed efficiently, we anticipate the possibility of an earlier launch — though we commit to the November 2026 deadline as our confirmed delivery date.
Veritech Digital (Pty) Ltd — 2026/459072/07 8
VT VERITECH Design Concept
Wireframe 01 of 03 — Homepage
ZENEX FOUNDATION
Home About us ▾ Our strategy ▾ Knowledge Hub News ▾ Contact us
NPO Reg. No. 000-000-NPO
Est. 1995
R1.6 billion invested in education
Partner: Dept. of Basic Education
Hero image — full-width photography
retained from current site.
Brand identity & colour palette preserved.
South Africa's education evidence base
Stronger evidence.
Better outcomes.
Over 3 decades of evidence-led grantmaking in South African primary education.
Explore our research →
I am looking for resources as a:
Researcher
Find reports, data & evaluations
Explore →
Educator
Find teaching resources & briefs
Explore →
Government
Policy evidence & DBE resources
Explore →
Donor
Impact reports & grant outcomes
Explore →
Our strategy
Strategy 2030
Accelerating evidence-led grant making, partnerships and thought leadership to strengthen language and mathematics outcomes for Grade R to Grade 6.
View 2030 Strategy →
Strategy
image
30 Years of Impact
View all stories →
Photo
Giles Gillet
NASCEE
Photo
Dr. Andile Dube
Impact story
30
Years of Zenex
Latest from Zenex
View all publications →
Learning Brief Jun 2025
Building strong foundations in early grade mathematics
Explores evidence-based approaches to Foundation Phase mathematics instruction across Zenex-funded programmes...
Research Report Mar 2025
Working article: A vocabulary journey with Foundation Phase teachers
Documents insights from teachers engaged in structured vocabulary development programmes in the Northern Cape...
Evaluation Jan 2025
Building capacity in education evaluation and research: The Zenex LEAD Programme
Evaluates outcomes of the LEAD capacity-building programme for education evaluators and M&E practitioners in South Africa...
Get in touch with Zenex
Have a question, collaboration idea, or funding interest? Tell us who you are and we'll connect you with the right person.
Researchers — data access & collaboration
Educators — programmes & resources
Government / DBE — policy partnerships
Donors & funders — investment opportunities
I am a
Researcher ▾
Name
Full name
Email
Email address
Message
How can we help you?
Send message →
ZENEX FOUNDATION
Independent grantmaker strengthening language and mathematics education in South Africa since 1995.
Useful links
About Us
Knowledge Hub
Our Strategy
Calls for Proposals
Contact Us
FAQ
Physical address
The Zenex Foundation
1st Floor, 18 Glenhove Road
Melrose Estate
Johannesburg
Follow us
f
X
in
NPO Reg. No. 000-000-NPO
© 2026 Zenex Foundation
1
Hero image retainedFull-width photography, brand colours (orange & purple) and visual identity preserved — the redesign enhances structure, not the brand
2
Trust barNPO reg number, founding year, R1.6bn investment figure, key partners — immediately below nav for institutional audiences
3
Audience selector4 tiles below the hero — Researcher, Educator, Government, Donor — each with tailored CTA. Replaces the current generic entry point.
4
Strategy 2030 retainedThe Strategy 2030 section is preserved in a cleaner two-column layout — copy left, image right, with a clear CTA
4b
30 Years of Impact retainedThe stories carousel is preserved as a 3-card grid — real names (Giles Gillet, Dr Andile Dube) with the 30-year badge card
5
Latest from ZenexEvolution of the existing Blog Posts section — now shows Knowledge Hub publications with dates, not just news articles
6
Brand identity preservedAll wireframe layouts will be applied within Zenex's existing orange and purple colour system during Phase 3 visual design
7
Audience-specific contact4 purpose-built contact pathways replacing the current generic form — each with relevant description and routing to the right person at Zenex
8
Redesigned footerRetains Useful Links, Physical Address and Follow Us from the current site — cleaned up structure with brand tagline and NPO registration visible
Veritech Digital (Pty) Ltd — 2026/459072/07 9
VT VERITECH Design Concept
Desktop view — Wireframe 02 of 03
Knowledge Hub — Landing view

Mid-fidelity wireframe showing proposed layout, content hierarchy, and interaction patterns. Greyscale only — no colour, typography, or imagery applied at this stage. Visual design direction is confirmed during Phase 3 in collaboration with the Zenex team.

ZENEX FOUNDATION
Home About us ▾ Our strategy ▾ Knowledge Hub News ▾ Contact us
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Knowledge Hub
Browse 140+ research reports, evaluations, policy briefs and knowledge products from Zenex Foundation
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Reducing Learning Backlogs ✕
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Reducing Learning Backlogs
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Reducing Learning Backlogs Research Report Researchers
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Early grade reading outcomes in multilingual classrooms: A longitudinal study across six provinces
Presents findings from a three-year study examining reading outcomes in Foundation Phase classrooms where instruction occurs in a home language other than English or Afrikaans...
Dr. N. Mthembu
2023
PDF · 2.4 MB
~18 min read
Cite this publication
↓ Download PDF
Reducing Learning Backlogs Learning Brief Educators
ICTs in early-grade mathematics education in South Africa: A learning brief
Explores the role of digital tools in supporting early-grade mathematics learning, drawing on evidence from Zenex-funded programmes across five provinces...
Zenex Research Team
2023
PDF · 1.2 MB
~10 min read
Cite this publication
↓ Download PDF
Reducing Learning Backlogs Policy Brief Government / DBE
Perspectives on learning backlogs in South African schooling
Summarises evidence on the scale and nature of learning backlogs in South African primary schools, with policy recommendations for the Department of Basic Education...
Zenex Research Team
2022
PDF · 0.8 MB
~7 min read
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↓ Download PDF
Reducing Learning Backlogs Research Report Researchers
The role of language in the teaching and learning of early-grade mathematics
Examines how language of instruction shapes mathematics learning outcomes in Foundation Phase, with specific reference to multilingual classroom contexts in South Africa...
Prof. S. Dlamini
2023
PDF · 3.1 MB
~22 min read
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↓ Download PDF
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ZENEX FOUNDATION
Independent grantmaker strengthening language and mathematics education in South Africa since 1995.
Useful links
About Us
Knowledge Hub
Our Strategy
Calls for Proposals
Contact Us
FAQ
Physical address
The Zenex Foundation
1st Floor, 18 Glenhove Road
Melrose Estate
Johannesburg
Follow us
f
X
in
NPO Reg. No. 000-000-NPO
© 2026 Zenex Foundation
1
Active filter stripSelected filters shown as dismissible pills above results — resolves the "no way back" issue in the current site
2
Persistent search barFull-width, descriptive placeholder — primary findability fix, above the fold at all times
3
Browse-by-topic tilesZenex's 5 actual categories as visual entry points with item counts — replaces current coloured accordion bars
4
Collapsible filter panelOnly top 2 filter groups open by default — Phase and Year collapsed to reduce cognitive load
5
Rich publication cardsReal Zenex titles, author, year, file size, reading time, content type, audience tag, cite link, explicit Download PDF CTA
6
Inline lead captureDashed-border block below results — captures high-intent visitors before they exit the page
Veritech Digital (Pty) Ltd — 2026/459072/07 10
VT VERITECH Design Concept
Desktop view — Wireframe 03 of 03
Publication detail — page view
Wireframe 02 — Publication detail page
ZENEX FOUNDATION
Home About us ▾ Our strategy ▾ Knowledge Hub News ▾ Contact us
Home› Knowledge Hub› Reducing Learning Backlogs› Publication detail
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Reducing Learning Backlogs Research Report Researchers
Early grade reading outcomes in multilingual classrooms: A longitudinal study across six provinces
Dr. N. Mthembu
Published 2023
PDF · 2.4 MB
~18 min read
Zenex Foundation, 2023
Abstract
This report presents findings from a three-year longitudinal study examining reading outcomes in Foundation Phase classrooms where instruction occurs in a home language other than English or Afrikaans. The study tracked learner progress across Grades 1–3 in 48 schools across six provinces, analysing the relationship between language of instruction, teacher practice, and literacy outcomes.
Key findings include evidence that structured literacy approaches in home language instruction significantly improve Grade 3 reading comprehension scores when teachers receive adequate professional development support. The report includes implications for policy and practice, with specific recommendations for the Department of Basic Education.
↓ Download PDF (2.4 MB)
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Related publications
The role of language in teaching and learning of early-grade mathematics
2023 · Learning Brief · Reducing Learning Backlogs
Perspectives on learning backlogs in South African schooling
2022 · Policy Brief · Government / DBE
Landscape analysis of the role of language in early grade mathematics teaching and learning
2023 · Research Report · Reducing Learning Backlogs
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Publication
cover image
Publication info
Author
Dr. N. Mthembu
Publisher
Zenex Foundation
Year
2023
Format
PDF · 2.4 MB · 48 pages
Topic
Reducing Learning Backlogs
Audience
Researchers, Educators
Language
English
Phase
Foundation Phase
Cite this publication
APA
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Chicago
Mthembu, N. (2023). Early grade reading outcomes in multilingual classrooms: A longitudinal study across six provinces. Zenex Foundation.
⎘ Copy citation
ZENEX FOUNDATION
Independent grantmaker strengthening language and mathematics education in South Africa since 1995.
Useful links
About Us
Knowledge Hub
Our Strategy
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1
Back to results linkPersistent "← Back to results (14)" — resolves the #1 audit finding: users currently stuck with no exit from publication pages
2
Full breadcrumb trailHome › Knowledge Hub › Category › Publication — users always know where they are and can navigate back at any level
3
Explicit action rowDownload PDF (with file size), Cite, Zotero export, Share — resolves file behaviour ambiguity flagged in audit
4
Sidebar metadata panelAuthor, publisher, year, format, topic, audience — all metadata surfaced in a structured panel
5
Related publications in sidebarMoved to sidebar as navigational content — keeps main column focused on reading. Includes "View all in this topic →" link.
6
Cover imagePublication cover displayed in sidebar — currently absent from detail pages, aids recognition and credibility
7
Feedback form retained & improvedZenex's existing feedback mechanism is preserved — enhanced with an audience role dropdown so responses are segmented by user type, making the data far more actionable
Veritech Digital (Pty) Ltd — 2026/459072/07 11
VT VERITECH Design Concept
Mobile view
Responsive design — Four key mobile screens

All pages are designed mobile-first. The following wireframes show four key mobile screens across a 2×2 layout — giving each screen enough room to show the full mobile experience. Top row: Homepage (entry point) and Knowledge Hub (discovery). Bottom row: Publication detail (destination) and the filter drawer interaction. All at 375px viewport — the most common mobile screen width in South Africa.

Homepage
ZENEX
Stronger evidence.
Better outcomes.
Explore research →
Est. 1995
R1.6bn invested
DBE partner
I am looking for resources as a:
Researcher
Reports & evaluations
Explore →
Educator
Teaching resources
Explore →
Government
Policy evidence
Explore →
Donor
Impact reports
Explore →
Latest from Zenex View all →
Learning Brief Jun 2025
Building strong foundations in early grade mathematics
Research Report Mar 2025
A vocabulary journey with Foundation Phase teachers
Knowledge Hub
ZENEX
Home › Knowledge Hub
Knowledge Hub
Browse 140+ research reports and knowledge products
Search publications...
Filters (2)
Sort ↕
Learning Backlogs ✕
Researchers ✕
14 results for "Learning Backlogs"
Research Report Researchers
Early grade reading outcomes in multilingual classrooms
Presents findings from a three-year study examining reading outcomes in Foundation Phase classrooms...
Dr. N. Mthembu · 2023 · PDF · 2.4MB
↓ Download PDF
Learning Brief Educators
ICTs in early-grade mathematics education in South Africa
Explores the role of digital tools in supporting early-grade mathematics learning...
Zenex Research Team · 2023
↓ Download PDF
12 more results — scroll to load
Publication detail
ZENEX
Home › Knowledge Hub › Detail
← Back (14)
Reducing Learning Backlogs Research Report
Early grade reading outcomes in multilingual classrooms
Dr. N. Mthembu · 2023 · PDF · 2.4MB · ~18 min
Abstract
This report presents findings from a three-year longitudinal study examining reading outcomes in Foundation Phase classrooms where instruction occurs in a home language other than English or Afrikaans...
↓ Download PDF (2.4 MB)
Cite
Zotero
Share ↗
Publication info
Author Dr. N. Mthembu
Year 2023
Topic Learning Backlogs
Audience Researchers
Related
The role of language in early-grade mathematics
2023 · Learning Brief
Perspectives on learning backlogs in South African schooling
2022 · Policy Brief
Filter drawer (open)
ZENEX
Knowledge Hub — results behind drawer
Filters Clear all
Content type
✓
Research Report 38
Learning Brief 24
Evaluation 18
Policy Brief 12
Audience
✓
Researchers 68
Educators 54
Government / DBE 40
Show 14 results
1
Hamburger navigationFull nav condenses to a hamburger menu on mobile — keeps the header clean on small viewports
2
Publication detail on mobileFull journey shown — breadcrumb + back link, tags, title, meta, abstract, Download PDF full width, secondary actions (Cite, Zotero, Share), publication info card, related publications
3
Single-column cardsPublication cards stack to full-width single column — all metadata, tags, and download CTA remain fully visible without horizontal scrolling
4
Trust bar as scrollable chipsOn mobile the trust bar becomes a horizontal row of compact chips — preserves the credibility signals without wrapping awkwardly
5
Audience selector 2×2 grid4 audience tiles reflow to a 2×2 grid on mobile — maintains visual hierarchy and remains thumb-friendly on all screen sizes
6
Apply button in filter drawer"Show 14 results" button confirms selections before closing — prevents accidental filter changes on touch screens
7
2×2 grid layoutFour screens give each phone frame more width — the full mobile experience is visible without the narrow cramping of a 3-column layout
Veritech Digital (Pty) Ltd — 2026/459072/07 12
VT VERITECH Design Concept
User journey mapping
How each audience moves through the site

The wireframes on the preceding pages represent three connected points in a single user journey. This map shows how each of Zenex's five key audiences enters the site and reaches the content most relevant to them. Note that researchers frequently enter directly from Google search — bypassing the homepage entirely — which is why the Knowledge Hub must work as a standalone discovery engine, not just a section within the site.

Page 01
Homepage
Entry point — all audiences
Page 02
Knowledge Hub
Discovery — find publications
Page 03
Publication detail
Destination — value delivered
Audience journey paths
Researcher
Google search
 →
Knowledge Hub
 →
Filter: topic + type
 →
Publication detail
 →
↓ View Report + Zotero
 →
Leave feedback
Educator
Homepage
 →
Audience selector
 →
Filter: Learning Briefs
 →
Publication detail
 →
↓ Download PDF
 →
Subscribe to updates
Govt / DBE
Homepage
 →
Trust bar ✓
 →
Filter: Policy Brief
 →
Publication detail
 →
↓ Download + Share
 →
Contact Zenex
Donor
Homepage
 →
30yr stories + Strategy
 →
Browse impact reports
 →
Publication detail
 →
Contact Zenex
Educator/NGO
Homepage
 →
News / Events
 →
Event detail
 →
Register / RSVP
Key interaction points across all journeys
Interaction
Audience selector
Every journey passes through this — the most critical UX decision on the homepage. Replaces the current generic hero entry.
Homepage — above the fold
Interaction
Faceted filter panel
Researchers, educators and government officials narrow 140+ publications to exactly what they need using topic, type, audience and year filters.
Knowledge Hub — persistent sidebar
Goal
Download PDF + cite
Primary conversion goal for 4 of 5 audiences. Explicit button with file size, cite link, and Zotero export on every publication detail page.
Publication detail — action row
Goal
Back to results
Resolves the #1 audit finding. "← Back to results (N)" on every detail page — users never get stuck again.
Publication detail — top of page
Trust
Trust bar
Government and donor audiences require credibility signals before engaging. NPO reg, founding year, R1.6bn and DBE partnership visible immediately.
Homepage — below navigation
Interaction
Lead capture
Inline subscribe block on the Knowledge Hub captures high-intent visitors before they exit after browsing.
Knowledge Hub — below results grid
Retained
Publication feedback form
Zenex's existing feedback mechanism is retained and improved — now includes an audience role dropdown so responses are segmented by user type, making the data actionable for Strategy 2030 evidence goals.
Publication detail — below content
Key interaction / decision point
Journey goal / conversion
Page visited
Veritech Digital (Pty) Ltd — 2026/459072/07 13
VT VERITECH Indicative Budget
Pricing
Indicative budget

All work is priced at R1,200 per hour. Project management and management fees are included in the total as required. VAT is excluded.

268
R1,200
R321,600
R78,400
Line item Hours Rate Amount
1. Discovery & information architecture
Stakeholder & content audit
Review UX report, existing sitemap, content inventory		8R1,200R9,600
IA & sitemap development
Taxonomy, metadata schema, content structure documentation		16R1,200R19,200
User journey mapping
4 key audience journeys: researcher, educator, donor, policymaker		8R1,200R9,600
2. UX design & wireframing
Wireframes — key pages
Homepage, Knowledge Hub, publication detail, About, Grants		24R1,200R28,800
Navigation & breadcrumb design
Global nav, contextual nav, back-to-results patterns		8R1,200R9,600
Interactive prototype
Figma clickthrough for client review & testing		16R1,200R19,200
3. UI design & design system
Visual design
Refined UI aligned to Zenex brand, responsive layouts		24R1,200R28,800
Component library
Publication cards, filters, search, breadcrumbs, CTAs		16R1,200R19,200
4. WordPress development
Theme & template development
Custom WordPress theme based on approved design system		40R1,200R48,000
Knowledge Hub rebuild
Faceted search, filters, metadata display, sorting		32R1,200R38,400
Navigation & accessibility implementation
Breadcrumbs, contextual nav, WCAG 2.1 AA compliance		16R1,200R19,200
Content migration support
Template mapping, migration guidance for existing content		8R1,200R9,600
QA & cross-device testing
Browser/device testing, accessibility checks, performance review		12R1,200R14,400
5. Performance measurement
GA4 implementation & event tracking
Audit, setup, Knowledge Hub interaction tracking, dashboard		16R1,200R19,200
6. Training & handover
CMS training session
Live training for internal staff on templates & Knowledge Hub management		8R1,200R9,600
Documentation
Written CMS guide, maintenance cost structure document		8R1,200R9,600
7. Project management
Project management & client comms
Scoping, milestone reporting, review cycles, final handover		24R1,200R28,800
Project total 268 R1,200 R321,600
20% under the R400,000 approved budget — R78,400
Optional: post-launch maintenance retainer R12,000/month (10 hrs at R1,200/hr) — covers WordPress core, theme and plugin updates, security monitoring and header checks, Knowledge Hub taxonomy management, minor UX iterations, and a monthly analytics summary report.
Veritech Digital (Pty) Ltd — 2026/459072/07 14
VTVERITECH Why Veritech Digital
Evaluation criteria response
Why we are the right appointment

The RFP weights four evaluation criteria. Below we map our submission directly against each — so the Zenex evaluation panel can assess our response with full clarity.

35%
Approach to the task
Highest weighted criterion
  • Pre-submission CRO audit using our own intelligence platform — we identified 6 critical issues before writing a single word of this proposal
  • Three desktop wireframes + four mobile screens built from Zenex's actual content, categories and publication titles — not generic templates
  • Six-phase delivery plan directly mapped to every scope item in Section 4 of the RFP
  • User flow diagram mapping all five audience journeys including the Google search entry point most agencies overlook
  • Interactive Figma prototype built before development begins — confirming design approval before a single line of code is written
25%
Profile and experience
Agency and team credentials
  • Level 1 EME — 100% Black-owned agency. Direct preference alignment with the RFP's BBBEE requirement
  • Proven NGO and purpose-driven organisation experience including Pathway Ministries, a church launched in May 2026
  • Fischer AI — our own CRO intelligence platform, purpose-built for this category of work
  • Full-stack capability: IA, UX, UI, WordPress development, GA4, SEO, security — no subcontracting, no handoffs
  • Data specialist Tumelo Mabena brings dedicated GA4 and analytics expertise to the engagement
20%
Organisational capacity
Ability to deliver on time
  • 17-week delivery plan from appointment to launch — comfortably within the November 2026 deadline with buffer built in
  • Four formal approval gates built into the timeline — Zenex retains full visibility and sign-off authority at every stage
  • Senior-led delivery team with dedicated leads across UX, development, and analytics — no resource switching, no competing priorities mid-project
  • Post-launch retainer available at R12,000/month — ensuring continuity and ongoing optimisation beyond delivery
20%
Cost
Value for money
  • R321,600 total — R78,400 (20%) under the approved R400,000 ceiling
  • R1,200/hour across 268 hours — competitive rate for senior full-stack UX and development capacity
  • Full metadata enrichment for all 140+ publications included at no additional cost — a significant added-value deliverable
  • Security header remediation (F → A rating) included in build — no separate line item, no hidden costs
Veritech Digital came to this proposal as a user of the Zenex site, not just a vendor reading a brief.
We audited the site before the brief asked us to. We built wireframes using your actual publications. We mapped your audiences against their real journeys. That is the level of attention Zenex will receive throughout the engagement.
Veritech Digital (Pty) Ltd — 2026/459072/07 15
VT VERITECH References
References
Two contactable references
Mr Rishen Narsing
Pathway Ministries
Phone081 553 7426
Emailrishen@pathwaym.co.za
Mr Rajan Govender
Giantrix IT Solutions
Phone082 688 6190
Emailinfo@giantrix.co.za

Why Veritech Digital

We reviewed the independent UX audit, the Strategy 2030 document, and the current state of the website before writing a single word of this proposal. That included a pre-submission technical scan that surfaced critical security gaps not mentioned in the brief. This is not a generic website redesign. It is a targeted, evidence-informed rebuild of a site that already has strong content but needs the architecture, navigation, and discoverability to match it.

You will work directly with the people building the site. The same specialist who scoped the IA will build the Knowledge Hub. The person who wrote this proposal will manage your project. That continuity, combined with a 100% Black-owned Level 1 BBBEE status and a budget 20% under the approved ceiling, makes Veritech Digital a strong and responsible choice for Zenex.

Ashlin Sami
info@veritechdigital.co.za
veritechdigital.co.za
2026/459072/07
Veritech Digital (Pty) Ltd — 2026/459072/07 16