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The Governance Structure of SANBI

Our Governance Structure

SANBI's structure is a reflection of the Institute's responsibilities as outlined in the National Environmental Management Biodiversity Act (NEMBA), 2004. The key indicator of this is SANBI's organogram which was approved by the Board in June 2010. The organogram mirrors SANBI's mandated functions through two key areas (i.e. branches), namely Biodiversity Research and Knowledge Management; and Corporate, Estate and Finance Management.

Download the SANBI Organogram

SANBI Board Profiles

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Mr Thamsanqa (Tami) Sokutu : Board Chairperson

Tami is an Executive Director at African Bank Investments Limites (ABIL) and African Bank Limites (ABL). He has been with African Bank Investment for eight years in different roles including Chief Operations Officer and Managing Director: Retail Lending including responsibility for overall Transformation.

Prior to joining ABIL, Tami was in Government occupying various senior positions at both National and Provicial level for a period of just under eight years. His last position in Government was as Director-General of Public Works for a three-year contract which ended in September 2002 when he joined ABIL.

Tami has an M.Sc. degree in Advanced Plant Systematics (UCT), Honours degree in Botany (UWC). He spent three years as an academic lecturing at the University of Transkei before joining government.

Tami was appointed as SANBI Board Chairperson on 1 December 2007 to date and his last second term expires 30 November 2014.

In his role as Chairperson of SANBI, Tami has to provide leadership on issues of Transformation for SANBI in support of the CEO.
thumbnail Dr Steven Cornelius
thumbnail Mr Antony (Tony) Frost
thumbnail Dr Joseph Matjila
thumbnail Mr Fundisile Mketeni

Composition of the Board

The SANBI Board is a statutory body appointed by the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs as prescribed in NEMBA and reports to the Department of Environmental Affairs. This is the third Board appointed on 01 December 2011 for a three (3) year term, which is ending on 30 November 2014, under the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act 109 of 2004 (NEMBA).

The Board is subject to the provisions of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA), Treasury Regulations and other relevant laws of the Republic of South Africa. The Board also strive to ensure good corporate governance practice within SANBI and it has adopted relevant sections of the King III Report, which have been incorporated into its Board Manual/Terms of Reference.

The Board is an Accounting Authority of SANBI.

Board Members

  • Mr Thamsanqa Sokutu (Chairperson of the Board)
  • Dr Steven Cornelius
  • Mr Antony Frost
  • Dr Joseph Matjila
  • Ms Nana Magomola
  • Ms Nokulunga Mnqeta
  • Dr Bernard Fanaroff
  • Mr Fundisile Mketeni (DEA representative)
  • Mr Godfrey Mashamba (DST representative)
  • Ms Duduzile Ngidi
  • Dr Tanya Abrahamse (SANBI CEO)

SANBI Board Secretary:

Board Sub-Committees

Audit Committee (AC):

  • Dr Steven Cornelius (Chairperson)
  • Mr Godfrey Mashamba
  • Mr Gijimane Dladla (Independent member)
  • Mr Vishnu Naicker (Independent member)
  • Dr Tanya Abrahamse (Ex-Officio)

Governance and Strategy Committee (GAS):

  • Mr Antony Frost (Chairperson)
  • Ms Nokulunga Mnqeta
  • Ms Duduzile Ngidi
  • Dr Tanya Abrahamse (Ex-Officio)

Human Resources and Remuneration Committee (HR & REMCO):

  • Dr Joseph Matjila (Chairperson)
  • Ms Nana Magomola
  • Mr Antony Frost 
  • Dr Tanya Abrahamse (Ex Officio)

Research, Development & Innovation Committee (RD&I)

  • Ms Duduzile Ngidi (Chairperson)
  • Dr Bernard Fanaroff
  • Mr Fundisile Mketeni
  • Dr Tanya Abrahamse (Ex Officio)

Members of the Executive Management Committee (EXCO)

  • Dr Tanya Abrahamse: CEO (Chairperson)
  • Ms Carmel Mbizvo: Head - Biodiversity Research and Knowledge Management
  • Mr Tom Bouwer: Chief Financial Officer
  • Mr Moeketsi Khoahli: Chief Corporate Officer
  • Prof. Gideon Smith: Chief Director - Biosystematics and Collections
  • Prof. John Donaldson: Chief Director - Applied Biodiversity Research
  • Prof. Guy Midgely: Chief Director - Climate Change and Bioadaptation
  • Ms Kristal Maze: Chief Director - Biodiversity Planning and Mainstreaming
  • Mr Christopher Willis: Chief Director - Conservation Gardens and Tourism
  • Mr Maano Netshiombo: Chief Director - Human Resources
  • Ms Pedzi Gozo: Director - Marketing and Communication
  • Prof. Michelle Hamer: Chairperson - Management Committee (MANCO)
  • Ms Lebogang Ralepeli: Board Secretary

Members of the Management Committee (MANCO)

  • Prof. Michelle Hamer: Director: Zoology (Chairperson)
  • Ms Theressa Frantz: Director - Applied Biodiversity Research
  • Ms Vivian Malema: Director - Biodiversity Empowerment & Human Capital Development
  • Mr Elias Moeng: Director - Human Resources
  • Mr Jeffrey Manuel: Acting Director - Biodiversity Mainstreaming
  • Ms Anthea Stephens: Director - Grasslands Programme
  • Mr John Dini: Director - Working for Wetlands Programme
  • Ms Mandy Barnett: Director - Fynbos & Succulent Karoo Programme
  • Ms Pedzi Gozo: Director - Marketing and Communication
  • Mr Simo Mpungose: Director - Information Technology
  • Mr Selwyn Willoughby: Director - Biodiversity Information Management
  • Mr Alan Smith: Director: Finance
  • Mr Philip Le Roux: Director - Gardens

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Last updated on 26 April 2012