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Our Leadership

Our Board of Directors

Chairperson of the Board for Ithala SOC Limited is MPUMZI M PUPUMA

Mr Mpumzi Pupuma
Chairperson

Appointed: 2020
Qualifications:

  • Masters of Business Leadership,

  • Bachelor of Accounting Sciences

​

Board Committees​

  • Human Resources and Remuneration Committee 

  • Directors Affairs Committee

  • IT Governance Committee

 

External Appointments

  • Chairman and Trustee of Grassland Development Trust

  • Committee Member of Nqamakwe and Nomaheya National Wool Growers Association

  • Director: Ntinga OT Tambo Development Agency

  • Director: Khoin PTY LTD

Ngoni Simelane Independent Non - Executive Director of the Ithala SOC Limited Board

Ngoni Simelane

Independent Non-Executive Director

Appointed: 2021
Qualifications:

  • Master of Business Administration,

  • Post Graduate Certificate in Business Administration

​

Board Committees

  • Audit and Compliance Committee

  • Risk and Capital Management Committee 

  • Directors Affairs Committee

  • IT Governance Committee

  • Insurance Advisory Committee

​

External Appointments

  • General Manager:Digital Platforms and Services at MTN

  • Chief Technology Officer at Early Stage Startup

  • Executive Head of Mobile and Digital Payments Strategy & Innovation at Standard Bank Group

Inkosi Sbonelo Mkhize is Deputy Chairperson of the Ithala SOC Limited Board

Inkosi Sbonelo Mkhize
Deputy Chairperson
Independent Non-Executive Director

Appointed: 2018
Qualifications:

  • Bachelor of Commerce (Economics) (University of KwaZulu -Natal),

  • Certificate in Public Policy (2014) University of California Berkeley

 

Board Committees​

  • Risk and Capital Management Committee

  • Social Ethics and Sustainability Committee 

  • Human Resources and Remuneration Committee 

  • Directors Affairs Committee

  • IT Governance Committee

  • Insurance Advisory Committee  

​

External Appointments

  • M Energy (PTY) LtdMC

  • Nalane Developmental Corporation (PTY) Ltd

Given Sibiya is an Independent Non - Executive Director of the Ithala SOC Limited Board

Ms. Given Sibiya

Independent Non-Executive Director

Appointed: 2017

Qualifications:

  • BCom 

  • BAcc (Wits) Chartered Accountant (SA) Management Committee

 

Board Committees​

  • Audit and Compliance Committee

  • Risk and Capital Management Committee

  • Social Ethics and Sustainability Committee 

  • Human Resources and Remuneration Committee 

  • Directors Affairs Committee

 

External Appointments

  • Member of Audit Committee, Media Development & Diversity Agency

  • Head of Internal Audit Division, SekelaXabiso Chartered Accountants

  • Non-Executive Director, Basil Read Holdings Ltd

SANDILE MNGUNI Independent Non - Executive Director of the Ithala SOC Limited Board

Dr Sandile Mnguni
Independent Non-Executive Director

Appointed: July 2019
Qualifications:

  • Honours in Cost Management Accounting

  • Master’s in Business Administration

​

Board Committees

  • Audit and Compliance Committee

  • Social Ethics and Sustainability Committee

  • Directors Affairs Committee

  • IT Governance Committee

  • Insurance Advisory Committee 

​

Employment History

  • Director at Bonakude Consulting and Assurance

  • Head of Expenditure finance at Ethekwini Municipality

  • Senior Manager at  Auditor General’s Office

Mbali Yedwa Mijako is an Independent Non - Executive Director of the Ithala SOC Limited Board

Ms. Mbali Yedwa Mjiako
Independent Non-Executive Director

Appointed: 2022

Qualifications:

  • MBA (Thames Valley University of London)

  • Bcom in Accounting (Vista University)

  • International Executive Leadership Development (BANKSETA/Wits)

 

Board Committees

  • Audit and Compliance Committee

  • Risk and Capital Management Committee

  • Social Ethics and Sustainability Committee 

  • Human Resources and Remuneration Committee 

  • Directors Affairs Committee

 

External Appointments

  • Head of Corporate Functions Audit at Standard Bank Group

  • Founder & CEO of Yedwa and Associates (Pty) Ltd

  • Chief Operating Officer at Barclays Shared Services  Africa

Our Executive Committee

DR THULANI DENNIS VILAKAZI is the CEO of the Ithala SOC Limited

Dr. Thulani Vilakazi
Chief Executive Officier

Appointed: 2020
Qualifications:

  • ​Doctor of Business Leadership (DBL) -  PhD

  • Post-Graduate Diploma in Company Directorship

  • Henley MBA -  Master of Business Administration

​

Management Committees

  • Board of Directors

  • Risk and Compliance Management Committee 

  • IT Governance Committee 

  • Insurance Advisory Committee 

  • Human Resources and Remuneration Committee

  • Social Ethics and Sustainability Committee


Employment History

  • Global Advisor - Guidepoint Advisors

  • Head of Strategy, Marketing & Communications - Nedbank Group - Africa Division

  • Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Director  - Rentworks Africa (Pty) Ltd 

  • Deputy Managing Director / Executive Director - Standard Bank Group

  • National Manager: New Enterprise Banking  -  ABSA Bank

Sethu Nsele is the CAE of Ithala SOC Limited

Mr. Sethu Nsele
Chief Audit Executive

Appointed: 2020
Qualifications:

  • Masters of Business Leadership

  • Certified Internal Auditor

  • Certified Financial Services Auditor

 

Management Committees (Invitee)

  • Executive Committee

  • Operational Risk Management committee

  • Management Credit Committee

  • Anti-Fraud and Ethics Committee

  • Assets and Liabilities Committee

  • Skills Development and Employment Equity Committee

  • Financial Misconduct Committee

​​

Employment History

  • Director – Audit, Risk and Governance - FTMG Corporate Advisory Services

  • Independent Consultant -  Self Employed (Sethu Nsele Advisory Services (SNAS)

  • Manager, Credit Risk Operations  - Rand Merchant Bank Ltd

  • Credit Governance Specialist -  ABSA Capital

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Mr. Aaron Pather 
Head of Insurance 

Appointed: July 2019

Qualifications:

  • Master’s in Business Administration (MBA)

 

Management Committees

  • Executive Committee

  • Operational Risk Management Committee

  • Management Credit Committee

  • Anti-Fraud and Ethics Committee

  • Assets and Liabilities Committee

  • Skills Development and Employment Equity Committee

 

Employment History

  • Sanlam, Business Manager

  • Nedbank Insurance Distribution, Head of Business development

  • Momentum, Regional Manager

  • Old Mutual,  Executive Sales Manager.

  • Liberty life, Relationship Manager.

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Mr. Neo Motlagomang  
Chief Risk Officer

Appointed: 2024
Qualifications:

  • MBA

  • Post-Graduate Diploma (Risk Management)

  • B.Tech (Credit Management)

 

Management Committees

  • Executive Committee

  • Operational Risk Management Committee

  • Anti-Fraud and Ethics Committee

  • Management Credit Committee

​

Employment History

  • Head of Risk - Habib Overseas Bank Ltd

  • Risk Assurance Manager and Credit Manager - Standard Bank and Absa

Mohamed Gafoor is the CFO of the Ithala SOC Limited

Mr Mohamed Gafoor CA (SA)
Chief Financial Officer 

Appointed: 2023
Qualifications:

  • Public Practice Examination - IRBA

  • SAICA (QE 1)

  • Bachelor of Commence Honours

  • Bachelor of Commence Degree

 

Management Committees​

  • Board of Directors

  • Executive Committee

  • Banking Licence and Investment Committee

  • Audit and Compliance Committee

  • Risk and Capital Management Committee

  • IT Governance Committee

  • Social Ethics and Sustainability Committee 

  • Human Resources and Remuneration Committee 

  • Insurance Advisory Committee 

 

Employment History

  • General Manager: Finance - Ithala SOC Limited

  • Snr Financial Manager -  Ithala SOC Limited

  • Group Financial Manager - Ohlanga Group of Companies

  • Snr Financial Manager - Petroleum Fine Products a division of the Omnia Group (Pty) Ltd (Protea Chemicals)

Adv. Kabelo Nkambule is the Compliance Officer of Ithala SOC Limited

Adv. Kabelo Nkhambule
Chief Compliance Officer

Appointed: 2020
Qualifications:

  • LLB Degree

  • Certificate in Marketing

  • Certificate in Cooperative Governance

​

Management Committees

  • Executive Committee

  • Management Credit Committee

  • Assets and Liabilities Committee

​​

Employment History

  • Chief Risk and Compliance Officer -  South African Express SOC Limited

  • Senior Manager: Group Compliance -  African Bank Holdings Limited

  • Group Legal advisor - African Bank Investments Limited

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Dr. Theo Nell
Head of Human Resources 

Appointed: 2022
Qualifications:

  • DPhil in Leadership in Performance and Change. University of Johannesburg.

  • MA Industrial Psychology (Cum Laude) University of Port Elizabeth 

​

Management Committees

  • Executive Committee

  • Human Resource and Renumeration Committee  

  • Social Ethics and Sustainability Committee

  • Skills Development and Employment Equity Committee

 

Employment History

  • Manager: Organisational Development And Change - Ithala SOC Limited: 

  • Director / Owner - Connect To Grow

  • Senior Manager: Organisational Development  - University Of Cape Town (UCT)

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Mrs. Nozipho Ngobese 
Head of Operations

Appointed: 2024
Qualifications:

  • Masters in Business Leadership

  • Bachelor of Business Administration

  • Diploma in Finance, Banking and Investment Management

 

Management Committees

  • Executive Committee

  • Operational Risk Management Committee

  • Anti-Fraud and Ethics Committee

  • Management Credit Committee

​

Employment History

  • Senior Business Operations Manager  - Ithala SOC Limited

  • Senior Operations Manager: Retail and     Business Banking  - Ithala SOC Limited

  • Acting Divisional Head: Savings and Investment - Ithala SOC Limited

Nomusa Mzimela is the Company Secretary of Ithala SOC Limited

Mrs. Nomusa Mzimela
Company Secretary 

Appointed: 2021
Qualifications:​​​

  • Bachelor of Laws [LLB-4]; University of KwaZulu-Natal.

  • Bachelor of Human Resources Management & Public Administration, University of KwaZulu-Natal.

​

Management Committees

  • Board of Directors

  • Risk and Compliance Management Committee 

  • IT Governance Committee 

  • Insurance Advisory Committee 

  • Human Resources and Remuneration Committee

  • Social Ethics and Sustainability Committee

 

Employment History

  • Senior Board - Cross Boarder Road Transport Agency (C-BRTA)

  • Company Secretary, Compliance & Corporate Governance Consultant - Habib Overseas Bank Limited

  • Financial Advisor Consultant  - Accolade Financial Service

Sibongeseni Phakathi is the CIO of Ithala SOC Limited

Mr. Sibongiseni Phakathi 
Chief Information Officer 

Appointed: 2021
Qualifications:​

  • Masters Engineering: Msc Eng University of Kwazulu-Natal 

  • Bsc Hons (Applied Physics) University of Kwazulu-Natal

 

Management Committees

  • Executive Committee

  • IT Governance Committee

​

Employment History

  • Head IT Solutions Delivery - UBank​

  • Service Delivery and Application Management - Armscor

  • Managing Partner - Sibongiseni and Sons

  • Manager - Postbank: South African Post Office

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Mr. Sandile Xolo
Chief Marketing Officer

Appointed: 2011
Qualifications:

  • BBA (Marketing),

  • Graduate Diploma (Marketing)

  • PASA Certificate (Payments)

 

Management Committees

  • Executive Committee

  • Operational Risk Management Committee

  • Anti-Fraud and Ethics Committee

  • Management Credit Committee

​

Employment History

  • Marketing and Sales Manager - Ithala SOC Limited

  • Brand Manager - Tsogo Sun: Suncoast Casino

  • Casino Brand Manager - Tsogo Sun Gaming: Suncoast Casino

  • Regional Assistant Brand Manager - Africa, Middle East and Turkey: Unilever​

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