KZN Tourism and Film Authority appoints board
Appointments to the recently formed Kwa-Zulu Natal (KZN) Tourism and Film Authority board have been confirmed.
Joel Sibusiso Ndebele, Chairman, is a former KZN Premier, KZN MEC for Transport, Minister of Transport and Minister of Correctional Services.
Former TKZN board members Rung Button, Deputy Chair of KZN Tourism and Film Authority, and Diana Hoorzuk, who was also a member of the interim board, have returned.
Button has managed her own tour operation business for more than 30 years and promotes KZN. Her company offers destination and booking advice and creates routes and itineraries that ensure visitors have memorable experiences.
Hoorzuk is a former Deputy Mayor of eThekwini Municipality. She held various posts during her 20 years as a councillor, including chairing the committee tasked with placing employees from five different entities into eThekwini. She serves on the uMgeni-uThukela Water Board and is a director of the Aids Healthcare Foundation, based in the USA, which currently assists people in 43 countries.
Bandile Mkhize is the founding Chief Executive of Trade & Industry KZN and former CEO of Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife. He has tourism management, planning and local economic development experience. As Head of the Department of Economic Affairs in Mpumalanga, he played an important role in activities around the Maputo Development Corridor. It was under his leadership that Kruger National Park won the award for the best-managed park in Limpopo and Mpumalanga and the award for the best park in the country.
Nomusa Zethu Qunta has more than 15 years of governance experience, having served on several boards. Her oversight experience includes membership of (and chairing) several audit committees for government including the Department of Land Reform, Agriculture and Rural Development, Department of Sports and Recreation, Parliament of South Africa, National Mines and Works Fund and the KZN Legislature.
Bunny Bhoola is a director and KZN Chairperson of SATSA. Her business, African Link Tourism, and its many subsidiaries, focuses on sustainable rural tourism and mentorship, which have become hallmark products after 25 years of hands-on experience.
Sphume Dlungwane, a chartered accountant with a masters degree in development finance, is a seasoned financial professional with experience in the public and private sectors spanning external and internal audits, accounting and financial management.
Samantha Croft is Operations Director of Southern Sun KZN Hotels and Resorts. Her goal is to help guests make magical memories and her mantra is to create an environment conducive to growth in others. Her role is to support the company’s various general managers in creating an environment that allows each resort to have its own personality while maintaining specific standards.
Zinhle Sokhela is a director, business owner, entrepreneur, community leader and public speaker with a long list of professional achievements including Business Woman of the Year 2010 from the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry. She also has awards for outstanding leadership and performance, contributing to economic development and community involvement.
Mpume Sidaki, with extensive financial experience, is the interim Chief Financial Officer at uShaka Marine World and former interim Chief Financial Officer for Tourism KZN where his duties included stakeholder engagement with the Department of Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism, provincial treasury and Durban Tourism.
Sandile Magoso, who has received numerous awards, has more than two decades of experience in the broadcasting and documentary film production industry. As Founder of Gela Productions, he has a strong portfolio of work covering international sporting matches. He has also documented South Africa’s top destinations for SA Tourism.
Rwanda Development Board welcomes new Chief Tourism Officer
The Rwanda Chamber of Tourism has welcomed Irene Murerwa as the new Chief Tourism Officer of the Rwanda Development Board (RDB). With her extensive leadership experience, including senior roles in finance and healthcare, RDB looks forward to her visionary contributions to Rwanda’s tourism sector.
Joburg Tourism welcomes new senior manager
The Joburg Tourism Company (JTC) has announced the appointment of Thembinkosi Sindane as Senior Manager: Tourism Development. With extensive experience in tourism and local economic development (LED), Sindane has an impressive track record in project conceptualisation, packaging and implementation.
Sindane’s career spans several reputable local government institutions including the Buffalo City Metropolitan Development Agency, uMgungundlovu District Municipality and Makana Local Municipality. During his tenure, he secured funding for numerous LED and tourism development projects and played a pivotal role in transitioning the municipal spatial planning framework to align with the Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act.
Sindane’s appointment marks a significant step in JTC’s strategic objectives to expand tourism offerings in Johannesburg. His vision focuses on broadening the tourism supply base by developing products and facilitating investment in niche development areas such as sports, medical, real estate and rail/transport tourism.
“The tourism sector holds immense potential for economic growth and job creation. I am excited to contribute to its development. By focusing on niche areas to develop the sector, we can unlock new opportunities, particularly for youth and build the skills needed for them to participate in the broader tourism economy.”
Thandubuhle Mgudlwa, JTC CEO, is confident that Sindane’s expertise and vision will enhance Johannesburg’s position as a leading tourism destination, driving innovation and inclusivity within the sector.
