OUR CURRENT FLAGSHIP PROJECT
The MetGovis Academy team has developed and is in the process of implementing the training programme on Municipal Staff Regulations as a Game Changer towards Professionalisation of Local Government in pursuit of the National Development Plan goals.
Our expert team has been hard at work behind the scenes developing this training programme. Over the coming months, our qualified and experienced facilitators will be conducting this training with councillors, Human Resource officials and strategic managers across the country.
Meet our Facilitators
Andre Els
Senior Consultant, Local Government expert
Andre is well known for his diverse knowledge across local municipal government. With over 40 years of experience, his knowledge and expertise make him an invaluable asset to any team.
After completing his degree in BA LAW. B JURIS in 1973, Andre joined the Vanderbijl Park Town Council. He has subsequently held various positions, from Senior Legal Adviser and Town Secretary to Municipal Manager and Chief Executive Officer. Andre is known for his in-depth municipal legislative knowledge, including the various Municipal Acts,
specifically the Demarcation and Municipal Property Rates Act. In addition, he is well-versed in both the Constitution and the Labour Act.
Andre has extensive experience and knowledge from a demarcation perspective. He served as the Transformation Manager for the KZN Department of Cooperative Governance, where he managed the re-demarcation process leading up to the 2016 Local Government elections. He has also managed changes to municipal boundaries at a provincial level and has held key roles advising on various aspects like
restructuring and reporting.
Andre specialised in the following fields:
• Legislation – Municipal, Demarcation, Property, Constitution, Labour
• Demarcation Process
• Integrated Development Plans
• Drafting of Section 12 and Section 14(5) Notices
• Post-Merger Assistance
• Provincial and Municipal Boundary Re-Demarcation
• District Council Capacity Assessments
Andre held key roles in the Municipal Capacity Program, the Municipal Support Program (Interventions), and during the local government elections. He is exceptionally knowledgeable on Performance Management Systems and has vast experience in various aspects of Executive Management, Labour and Human Resources Management, and Finance Management.
Thandiswa Mfazwe
Local Government Training Facilitator
Thandiswa Mfazwe is qualified in Town and Regional Planning, Project Management and Social Science and Development Studies. She brings 25 years of experience from working within the municipal sector to the team. Thandiswa has a broad based knowledge base of policies and legislation as well as operational experience of the interpretation and application of these.
Her areas of expertise include; Project management, human resource development, development planning, economic development, financial management, budgeting, training and facilitation, as well as stakeholder engagement and change management.
Abraham Nthako
Local Government Training Facilitator
Abraham gained his local government experience over the past 20 years while working in local government. His in-depth knowledge of the legal landscape is gained through holding various key roles in local government.
After completing his B.PROC degree, Abraham worked within the private sector as a practicing attorney from 2000 to 2009. He also acted as a Magistrate for the Department of Justice in 2008. Abraham has extensive litigation experience, having litigated in the High Court, Labour Court, and Magistrate’s Court.
He also has significant experience handling labour disputes during his tenure as a Commissioner of CCMA. Abraham also served as a Commissioner at SALGBC and has held key roles at various Bargaining Councils. Abraham was a member of both the AMANZI Executive Committee and the SALGBC Executive Committee. Abraham believes in continued education and acquired both knowledge and experience in litigation, mediation, conciliation, negotiations, practices, public service SMS, and received training through respected institutions, including the School for Legal Practice, CCMA, Law Society of South Africa, SALGBC in partnership with LGSETA.
Abraham’s litigation. labour knowledge, combined with his vast local government experience, makes him an invaluable asset to the team.
Aubrey Nsuntsha
Local Government Training Facilitator
Aubrey’s strength is his experience and expertise in economic development. This has been gained overthe past 15 years. Aubrey holds a Masters Degree in Town and Regional Planning from the former University of Natal (Durban).
His Masters program included Local Economic Development (LED) as his specialisation. Aubrey joined the Pietermaritzburg Chamber of Business as a project manager in 2003 with a critical focus on developing organized business structures. He has subsequently gained experience within the public sector, and for the last 12 years, he has been a development consultant and entrepreneur.
He is currently part of the Municipal Economic Support initiative, the team developing support programmes to assist municipalities implement measures to grow and develop local economies. The initiative involves the participation of SALGA, Durban University of Technology, Productivity South Africa, Forestry South Africa, and others.
Aubrey has experience within both the public and private sectors. His experience in small business development, development planning, and local economic development, combined with his impressive academic background, provides him with strategic skills, making him an integral member of the team.
Lionel Pienaar
Lionel has a wide range of knowledge and expertise gained through his career of 40-plus years within local government. Lionel completed his Bachelor of Law in 1973 and started working in the Department of Justice.
His knowledge and experience can be seen throughout his impressive career, where he held key roles, including Chief Director of Local Government and Housing, Chief Director of Local Government, and Acting Deputy Director General of Local Government. He worked most recently for the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government as a local government expert on a contractual basis.
Lionel gained important knowledge and experience from international study tours to Australia, Canada, and the USA. He also participated in a study tour of Germany to broaden the knowledge base of local practitioners about the concept of inter-Municipal Co-operation, including Shared Services.
His educational background, combined with his impressive experience and expertise, give him unique insights that makes him an essential member of the team. The seniority of his appointments have afforded Lionel with a high-level strategic and overarching knowledge that he shares with huge passion and
generosity.
Buysiwe Ngubane
Buysiwe’s impressive academic background and 20 years of experience make her an invaluable asset. She holds a Masters in Urban and Regional Planning (MURP) and a National Diploma in Real Estate (Property Valuations). In addition, Buysiwe is in the final year of studying for her Bachelor of Laws degree(LLB).
She worked as a student town planner and junior lecturer before joining the Department of Local Government and Housing (Northern Cape) as the Town and Regional Planner. Buysiwe’s interest has been predominantly focused on planning. She was the Development Planner at the Ugu District Municipality, Senior Manager: Strategic Planning and Development for the Umdoni Local Municipality, and Chief Town and Regional Planner for the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs – KZN.
Buysiwe is currently the Programme Manager – Capacity Enhancement Employer for the eThekwini Metro. Her key responsibilities are planning strategic sessions, facilitation, and knowledge management.
Buysiwe has in-depth experience and knowledge in the following areas:
- Planning – Strategic/Statutory/Spatial
- Forward or strategic planning (IDP formulation, review & implementation
- Property valuation and management oversight
- Understanding of Land Use Management Systems
- Performance Management System
- Local Economic Development
- Urban/Township Renewal Interventions