13 Dec Batho Pele principles to drive newly appointed council at the Social Housing Regulatory Authority
December 2021. Cabinet has approved the appointment of a new Social Housing Regulatory Authority (SHRA) Council. The new council members will be looking to foster a more transformed, inclusive and sustainable housing sector, under the direction of the newly appointed chairperson, Ms Busisiwe Nzo.
The new council non-executive and executive members. The non-executive members are Busisiwe Nzo (chairperson); Pulani Thobejane-Mogotsi; Lahlane Malema; Sanele Masiza; Yvonne Deliwe Mbane; Lebogang Shole; Ayanda Olifant; Zimbini Hill; Confidence Tshilande; Kevin Kiewitz; Ashley Latchu; and Mashukudu Maboa.
The executive members are Mpolai Nkopane (Acting CEO of the SHRA); and Vusi Fakudze (Acting Corporate Services Manager at the SHRA).
The new chairperson, Nzo, is a registered quantity surveyor and has been in the profession since 1995. She is passionate about the social housing sector as she says, “We are not just a social housing entity which looks at property development. We look at the bigger picture, we bring families together, we bring people closer to work and we bring children closer to good schools. I look forward to driving the SHRA forward with this energetic new council as we continue to empower social housing institutions to create homes for our people.”
On the appointment, Human Settlements Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi said that the new council clearly demonstrates that professional and skilled South Africans are still willing to work with government and serve their fellow citizens. Addressing the council, she said: “As you take on the baton, I expect you to focus on bringing stability by recruiting and deploying capable people. There should be no compromise on skills requirements. Further, under your leadership, you must strive to deliver services to South African citizens with speed, efficiency but above all, with strict adherence to the Batho Pele principles.” The Batho Pele initiative aims to enhance the quality and accessibility of government services by improving efficiency and accountability to the recipients of public goods and services.
Prior to this council appointment, the SHRA was under the guidance of an interim council for two years. Mpolai Nkopane, SHRA Acting CEO says that she is thankful to the Interim Council for the strategic guidance that they have provided during this time. “We can all agree that the SHRA has gone through a shift, and we are pleased to have achieved a more focussed approach to transformation, deeper engagements with stakeholders, and a more ethical and accountable leadership culture. I wish success for the new council as they continue these great initiatives.”
“I can feel the energy of this new council, and the innovation that they bring. There is an interest from everyone to take the organisation forward and I look forward to seeing what we achieve,” concludes Nzo.
The Social Housing Regulatory Authority (SHRA) is an agency of the Department of Human Settlements established in August 2010 as per the Social Housing Act, No 16 of 2008. SHRA is a public entity in terms of Schedule 3A of the Public Finance Management Act, No. 29 of 1999 (PFMA).