To the rescue: Meet the new Denel board

Cape Town – From former civil rights activists to experienced directors and even defence force veterans, Minister of Public Enterprises Pravin Gordhan dipped into a well of diverse experiences to put together the Denel board which he announced on Monday afternoon.

The new board will be led by former chair of Airports Company South Africa Monhla Hlahla. She has also served as a non-executive for Exxaro Resources as well as non-executive chair of Johannesburg Water.

Cheryl Carolus is not only an activist with her political roots in the United Democratic Front, she also served as chairperson of South African Airways. She and other SAA board members resigned during the height of Dudu Myeni’s reign at the national carrier. She has also served at SA Tour, SA National Parks and is a former South African high commissioner to the United Kingdom.

Zoli Kunene is an honourary colonel in the South African National Defence Force. He is a former chair of the South African Aerospace Maritime and Defence Industries Association and former president of the Defence Industries Interest Group of SA.

Kunene has director experience from serving as a director of local telecoms giant Cell C. He is also no stranger to Denel. He has organised labour experience as the coordinator of the legal unit for the Council of Unions of SA, the forerunner to Cosatu.

Sue Rabkin served as special advisor to former minister of defence Mosiuoa Lekota. Gordhan hailed her history and track record as a political activist. University of Johannesburg vice chancellor and principal Professor Tshilidzi Marwala was appointed to the board and has also served as an independent non-executive director of EOH Holdings.

General Themba Matanzima has served as chief of joint operations as well as chief of human resources at the SANDF. Gloria Serobe is a founding member of Women Investment Portfolio Holdings and has served on the boards of Sasol Mining, Old Mutual Emerging Markets and Hans Merensky.

Talib Sadik has served as chief financial officer for Basil Read, financial director for Denel, and group financial director for De Beers as well as Tiso Blackstar Holdings, formally known as Times Media Group.

Sibusiso Sibisi’s experience includes serving as president and CEO of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research. Nonzukiso Siyotula former CEO of Thebe Investment Corporation and former non-executive director at Growthpoint. She has also held senior positions at Barclays Africa Group, Royal Bafokeng Investments and Old Mutual Retail Mass.