EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Melanie Veness
Melanie holds a B.Comm degree in Industrial & Organisational Psychology, is people-focused and cause-driven. She is the current Chairperson of the Association of South African Chambers (ASAC). ASAC is an alliance formed by the largest chambers in South Africa to give voice to shared business challenges and represent the mandated and agreed common interests of members on national issues of a policy and/or regulatory nature.
She serves as the Treasurer of the KwaZulu-Natal Business Chambers Council (KBCC) and is a business representative on the KZN Economic Council. She is also the chair of the local South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) branch and she sits on the SAIIA National Council.
Prior to her appointment at the chamber, she was the Director of Pietermaritzburg Tourism for nine years. During her tenure with Pietermaritzburg Tourism, she was elected Chairperson of the Community Tourism Association KZN as well as President of Skal International Midlands.
Melanie is driven by her desire to make a real difference in Pietermaritzburg and in South Africa. Keenly aware that the development of business is key in alleviating poverty and addressing unemployment, she takes her advocacy role very seriously and works boldly and consistently to drive meaningful change.
NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS
Dr John Buyers – PRESIDENT
John has over 35 years of management experience, including currently serving as Managing Director of Preformed Line Products South Africa. He has extensive experience in the running of a business as well as having been involved in many Merger & Acquisitions both locally and internationally for Preformed Line Products Corporation. He has gained experience in directing a wide range of administrative and operational situations, in many management roles and initiatives, organisational strategy and structure, sales and marketing of capital equipment and consumable products, compilation of budgets, financial controls, procurement, staff relations, training and development, quality management, project management and the running of a manufacturing facility. He has tutored Business Management for UNISA and the Open University in the United Kingdom, has lectured Business Strategy on the MBA Program, Financial and General Management. He has also lectured Business Strategy at the local University of Technology and Project Management at Varsity College. He passed his MBA Cum Laude in October 2000.
Bonga Ndaba – DEPUTY PRESIDENT
Bonga completed matric at Hilton College and studied B A (Law) at University of KwaZulu-Natal. He went on to complete the Advanced Programme in Purchasing Management at Unisa while working in various roles for Sappi Ltd. While still with Sappi, he completed the Associate in Management (AIM) Programme full time at the Graduate School of Business of the University of Cape Town.
He worked for Engen Petroleum, initially at the Refinery, then later at the Regional Offices in Westville. Bonga became a Certified Purchasing Manager (CPM) by meeting the requirements of the Institute of Purchasing and Supply South Africa (IPSA) in November 2002. He also served as the Vice Chairperson of the Institute of Purchasing and Supply, Southern Africa (IPSA) KZN from 2007 – 2009, when the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply Southern Africa (CIPS) was launched and took over from IPSA. In 2012, CIPS awarded him an MCIPS (Full Member of the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply). He was also on the Exco of the National Association of BBBEE Consultants (NABC) from 2008 – 2010. During his time at Engen, he completed an MBA at UKZN in 2006 and has held various management roles in Contract Management, Procurement, and Sales & Marketing. Prior to Engen and Sappi Ltd, Bonga worked in various roles at Hulett Aluminium (now Hulamin) and First National Bank.
In 2015, American based APICS (The Association for Supply Chain Management) conferred upon him the designation of Certified Supply Chain Professional.
His formal training includes Strategy; Management Consulting; Project Management; Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment Consulting; World Class Procurement; Supply Chain Management; Quality Systems Auditing; Total Productive Manufacturing; Contract Law/Legal Writing; Service Level Agreements; SAP Materials Management; Import and Export; Strategic Sourcing; Commodity Management; High Performance Sales; Finance; Competition Law.
His Directorships include Strelitzia Projects, BSN, Expandasign, Clanfin Africa, AgriKZN Projects and Mandate Strategic Solutions and Strelitzia Projects.
Harry Shaw – DEPUTY PRESIDENT
Harry Shaw is the managing member of Shaw and Wall cc, a leading specialist commercial and industrial property broking and management enterprise based in Pietermaritzburg since 1993. What sets Shaw and Wall apart is its ability to conceptualize, instigate and deliver fully completed and tenanted new developments and/or recycled older properties on behalf of its client base. Prominent precincts/properties with which we have been involved include the Bird Sanctuary motor dealership precinct, Tile Africa in Victoria road and the new Maritzburg Arch Lifestyle Centre, amongst others.
His management portfolio encompasses multi storey office blocks as well as the aforementioned Maritzburg Arch with tenants ranging from government departments, legal practitioners, national retailers, national service industries, educational institutions, professional practices et al.
Harry has been a certified estate agent since 1991 and also chaired three school governing bodies. Sustainable, tenant driven, people and environmentally friendly development remains his core passion and his aim is to work with all sectors of the economy to bring such growth to Pietermaritzburg and its environs.
Thirusha Govender – TREASURER
Thirusha is the owner of ControlPro, a company committed to assisting businesses to develop. With advanced skills and qualifications in Auditing, Accounting, Tax and Business Management, Thirusha is uniquely positioned to assist businesses holistically. ControlPro has been a member of the Chamber for nearly 10 years and has partnered with the Chamber through the Business Skills Training Programme, Marketing Mix forums and really values the Chamber.
Kervin Budram
Kervin obtained his Degree in Management (Cum Laude), and an overall distinction from the University of Cape Town for completion of his Program for Management Development. This path of study was to further his aspirations in terms of Business Management and to complement his academic qualifications in the Finance sphere. He also attended SAP Business School in Sandton. His current job is focused largely on financial control and analyst roles within Aberdare Cables, where he recently celebrated a thirty-year experience milestone. The association with his current employer has seen him afforded many learning opportunities and experiences within their vast network within South Africa and globally. He has, over several years, represented many sporting and religious organisations and local committees in an Executive or Managerial role, and is actively involved in many community projects and developments.
Ali Engelbrecht
Ali Engelbrecht has been an educator for 30+ years and an entrepreneur for 26. She founded and headed up Women In Business (social networking platform for entrepreneurial women) for 15 years, recently handing over the reins. Ali has been a member of the Chamber for over 20 years and has served on the Board in various portfolios. Having taken a leave of absence, Ali is now back, to serve and support the business community of the PMCB. Ali runs her own business, Ali Cat’s Business Services, and is a member of the Varsity College Online Campus staff. Ali is an Honorary member of WESSA (The Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa).
Mark Gutridge
Mark Gutridge is the Managing Director of Brink Towing Systems. He started at Ramsay Engineering in 1994, where he qualified as a Toolmaker and studied Mechanical Engineering. Since 2006, he has been actively involved in the joint venture between Ramsay Engineering and the Brink Group. In 2010, Mark became the Managing Director of Brink South Africa, and in 2016, he took on the additional role of Managing Director of Brink UK. He is passionate about giving back to the community and believes that through his involvement with the chamber, he can continue to make a meaningful impact on the upliftment of many others.
Andile Jordon
Andile is a self-employed professional accountant operating an accounting practice as a private company. Andile serves as a board member of Khanyabha Academy of Maths & Science, whom he represents on the board. Previously Andile worked closely with the PCB to draw in start-ups and SMME’s from the greater Edendale area.
Sharryn Middleton
Sharryn is the Owner/Principal/Managing Director of RE/MAX Midlands with offices in Pietermaritzburg, Hilton & Howick. She has been with RE/MAX for 25 years and is Maritzburg born and bred. She is a Board Member at Epworth High School, Chairperson of the Epworth High School Parents Association and Event Organiser for the Mudman Series (Epworth, Cordwalles, Richmond & Eston events). She values the opportunity to assist in the community by serving on the PMCB Management Board. She is serving her second term.
Themba Ndhlovu
An accomplished entrepreneur, Themba has extensive experience in starting, operating and managing business enterprises, from small start-ups that offer professional services to leading multi-million Rand private enterprises as a Director of companies. Themba’s expertise ranges from business administration to marketing insurance/financial products and services to recruiting and training sales staff; as well as mentoring emerging entrepreneurs along the supply chain of the many business enterprises that he gets involved in. Among the notable achievements in mentoring SMMEs, is the development of a number of SMMEs in the construction industry by conceptualising and implementing an accelerated development school building programme. Some of the SMMEs grew from very small entities with 1GB to major players with higher CIDB gradings. Themba is serving his second term on the Board.
David Poole
David Poole is a Partner at long established law firm, Austen Smith and currently heads up the firm’s collections department. He was admitted as an attorney in 1994 and has over twenty five years’ experience in the collection of debts in a fast and efficient manner.Dave is a past chairman of the Pietermaritzburg Attorneys’ Association and is currently representing the Association as its Treasurer. He is also a member of the board at Epworth School and chairs the Physical Planning & Development Committee.
Raj Seeparsad
Raj Seeparsad is among the most experienced and well-respected Human Resource Practitioners in KwaZulu Natal. He has local, continental and global HR and labour experience. He is a coach and mentor to several Human Resources professionals. Raj was instrumental in setting up the 1st Public Sector HR Conference through the Premier of KZN’s office and has presented papers at the Public Sector HR conferences and other related conferences both nationally, continentally and internationally. He is a registered Skills Development Facilitator and a member of the PMCB’s Management Board and EXCO. He is a past 2nd Deputy President at PMCB. Raj represents the PMCB at the Department of Employment & Labour’s Stakeholders Forum and he’s served on the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) Stakeholder’s Forum. Raj chairs the PMCB’s People Management Forum and is a member of the Staffing Portfolio Committee. He is the Past President of the Institute of People Management South Africa. Raj is a member of the Management Board of the World Federation of People Management Associations (WFPMA) and he is the President of the African Human Resources Confederation (AHRC). Raj is the recipient of several National, Continental and Global HR and related Leadership Awards. He has a wealth of knowledge and experience in HR and Labour related matters including but not limited to Management, Supervisors and Shop Stewards training, CCMA & DRC preparation and representation and general Employee/Employer Relation matters. He is currently a HR & Labour Consultant to many organizations.
Kevin Smith
Kevin Smith is the current Director: College Business at Maritzburg College and was nominated by St Charles College to represent business interests in the Education Sector. Education remains a major employer in Pietermaritzburg with massive collective capital investment. Quality and excellence in Education in any City meets one of the key fundamental needs of families wishing to relocate and accept an offer of employment from any business in the city. A representative from the school community on the PMCB Board provides valuable insight.Kevin is servinghis second term on the Board.
Mziwamadoda Tyhokolo
Mzi is a business executive with 21 years’ experience in the gas industry, with 16 of those years being at SLG (Pty) Ltd. Mzi has been a member of the Executive Team for 11 years and is the current CEO of SLG, a position he has held for two and half years. He leads the second largest natural gas trading company in South Africa, which has a strong market presence in Gauteng and KwaZulu Natal with a 20-year track record.
He has a personal proven track record in business development, sales, managing customer and stakeholder relationships, contract negotiations, implementation of key accounts management strategies, market development, formulating and implementation of business strategy, operations management and strategic project management.
A motivated, driven and independent professional with strong relationship management, analytical, negotiation, decision making, problem solving, communication and leadership skills. His brand of leadership is transformational leadership, and he is highly regarded by his peers and colleagues.
