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KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development, Tourism & Environmental Affairs has started the new year in high note with the appointment of two senior executives that are expected to play a vital role in assisting the organisation realise its vision of attaining a radically transformed and sustainable economic growth for KwaZulu-Natal.

Mr Siza Sibande would be the Acting Head of Department and brings with him a wealth of experience and knowledge to the Department having previously served as Manager for Ukhahlamba Local Municipality and Chief Executive Officer for Moses Kotane Institute.

His appointment coincided with that of Ms Zama Mtongana who is the new Chief Financial Officer after spending years working as Financial Manager for the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Liquor Authority.

Whilst at Ukhahlamba, Mr Sibande transformed this rural municipality into one of the well managed local government entities. Amongst other things, he spear-headed proper alignment of the municipality’s IDP to focus on the area’s spatial economic strength, including its strategic location on the highly revered tourism route that features the UNESCO declared Ukhahlamba-Drakensberg Mountains.

The area is seamlessly connected by busy N3 motorway and R75 to the hinterland provinces of Free State and Gauteng and as well as Lesotho. His passion for development and building partnerships between government, private sector and communities attracted the attention of Moses Kotane Institute which is the province’s strategic agency assigned to promote skills development skills, especially in the field of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) in preparation for KwaZulu-Natal’s effective participation in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

However, following the recent departure of former Head of Department, Ms Ncapayi to pursue alternative career options, the Department had identified Mr Sibande as the suitable leader to steer the organisation forward until a permanent accounting officer is appointed. Announcing the recruitment of the Acting Head of Department, MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Mr Sihle Zikalala said he believed that Mr Sibande possess suitable qualities to keep the Department grounded on its mandate to fast-track socio-economic transformation in the province.

His qualifications in the field of economic and development; experience in working at various levels of public service and as well as his general commitment towards the accomplishment of equitable economic development justify his appointment to this strategic and important role of steering forward the department and its diverse public entities.

``This is a very multi-skilled manager who understands the vision of a developmental state that is premised on the task of accelerating socio-economic transformation to ensure that our people, particularly the historically marginalised, appreciate the benefits of living in a democratic state’, added Mr Zikalala who also acknowledged that Mr Sibande’s work in government has also been punctuated by his dedication to youth empowerment hence his appointments resonates with government’s commitment to reverse the high levels of unemployment amongst the young people particularly to ensure that `we grow South Africa and KwaZulu-Natal together’.  

Mr Sibande is well equipped for this challenging task as he amongst other things boasts an array of impressive academic qualifications that include a Masters Degree in Business Administration (University of Stellenbosch); Bachelor of Administration (Vista University) and Bachelors of Technology in Management (DUT). He further completed some professional studies in Management Development for Municipal Finance with Wits and as well as Project Management at Damelin College.

Issued by The KwaZulu-Natal Ministry of Economic Development, Tourism & Environmental Affairs