​Deputy Director-General - Policy and Governance/Governance and Strategic Management

Denver van Heerden

Mr. Denver Hymie Van Heerden is tasked to provide overall Strategic Management and Leadership to the branch and to promote, facilitate and guide projects, policies and practices in line with the Strategic Plan, Annual Performance Plan of the Department, taking into account all relevant legislative mandates and policy directives.   He was appointed as the Deputy Director General Strategic Management and Governance at the Office of the Premier from 1st December 2016.

EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS:

Last School Attended:   Bethelsdorp Senior Secondary School
                                           Port Elizabeth
                                           1975 - 1979
Higher Education:         University of the Western Cape
                                           1980 - 1982
                                           University of Port Elizabeth
                                          1983 – 1984 and 1988 – 1989

Degrees Obtained and Major Subjects Passed

Qualification:                  BA Social Work

Subjects:                           Social Work III
                                            Sociology III

Post Graduate:               BA Hons – Social Work

SPECIAL COURSES UNDERTAKEN:  Certificate in Health and Welfare Management - UOVS
                                                                Junior Management Course by the Commission for Administration in 1990
                                                               The Law Course for Social Workers offered by the Justice College 1994
                                                               Certificate for Health & Welfare Managers presented by Gengold 1998
                                                               Executive Development Programme in Social Security Governance.

 PREVIOUS EMPLOYMENTS:

1. Office of the Premier                                       01 December 20106 to date

2. Department of Cooperative Governance;     01 September 2015 – 30 Nov 2016
Human Settlement and Traditional Affairs  

3. Department of Environment and Nature      01 July 2011 – 31 August 2015
Conservation

4. Department Roads and Public Works           01 July 2010 – 30 September 2011  
Northern Cape

5. South African Social Security Agency            01 May 2007 – 31 March 2009

6. Social Development North West                   01 October 2000 – 31 April 2007

7. Social Development Northern Cape             01 October 1995 – 30 September 2000

8. Social Development Western Cape              01 April  1994  - 30 September 1995

9. House of Representatives                             01 January 1983 – 31 March 1994

Mr Thami Mabija has been appointed as head of the Department for Economic Development and Tourism with effect from 1 April 2021.

Mr Mabija was born and raised in Galeshewe Township in Kimberley, Northern Cape province. After completing his matric he enrolled at University of Cape Town to study towards a Bachelor Degree in Commerce majoring in accounting and economics.

His additional qualifications include a Master’s Degree from University of South Africa and he is currently finalizing another Master’s in Public Administration.

Early in his career he joined Northern Cape Premiers office as an accounting clerk and worked himself up through the ranks. Later, he was appointed Chief Financial Officer of the Department of Roads, Transport and Public Works. Mr Mabija also held several senior executive roles at Free State Provincial Treasury. In May 2017- October 2019 he was appointed as acting Head of Department for Northern Cape provincial Treasury and October 2019-May 2020 he was appointed as Acting Municipal Manager at Sol Plaatje Municipality for six months to stabilize the municipality.

He brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience, in the Northern Cape Provincial Government Administration, having worked his way up through the ranks to gain valuable skills and expertise.

Mr Mabija spearheaded several initiatives and his financial knowledge, strong analytical and leadership skills are several leadership positions that saw him win the award for the Best Presented Annual Report for two consecutive years, namely 2009/10 and 2010/11 financial years by SAIGA. As Chief Financial Officer for the Free State Provincial Treasury he achieved a Clean Audit Status for 5 conservative years, and continued with clean audits whilst acting as HOD in treasury.

He served in several leadership position, he was the Black Management Forum Provincial Chairperson for the Northern Cape for two terms.

Mr Mabija is a highly accomplished accounting and financial management executive with 16 years’ experience within government.

​Deputy Director-General - Institutional Development

Gugulethu Edna Matlaopane

EXPERIENCE:
1985             Qualified in General Nursing Diploma, Midwifery
1992             Qualified in Bachelor of Law, Wits University
1993             Appointed by the ANC to serve in the non-statutory body tasked with the dissolution of former provinces of RSA
1993-1995    Appointed to Head Legal Wing of Electoral Commission
1995-1997    Appointed Chief Executive Manager Department Constitutional Affairs, Local Government & Housing
1997-2003    Appointed Provincial Electoral Officer, Independent Electoral Commission, Northern Cape
2004-2008    Appointed Provincial Electoral Officer, Independent Electoral Commission Gauteng,
2008-2011    Delegated to Head Legal desk of SADC working in Burundi and the Republic of Congo DRC
2012-2016    Appointed Head of Department, Northern Cape Department of Health
2016-            Appointed Depurty Director General: Institutional Development, Office of the Premier

OTHER EXPERIENCE:
Lead delegation to assist and observe elections in the following countries:
i.    Burundi
ii.    Mozambique
iii.    Cameroon
iv.    Congo DRC
v.    Malawi

PAPER DELIVERED:

•  Invited by the late Prof. van Zyl Slabbert o deliver paper post 1994 Elections in South Africa. Paper titled “Beginning of the End”.  Delivered at Gallagher Estate, Johannesburg, RSA
• Delivered paper “Types and Philosophy of Elections in Africa:”
• Delivered paper “Lessons Africa can share with the West” delivered in Houston – Harris County, Texas

CONFERENCE ATTENDED:

• Black Lawyers Association – Johannesburg, RSA
•  Women in Leadership  – Johannesburg, RSA
•  Role of Public Servant Post-Apartheid Era – Johannesburg, RSA
• Elections in the African Continent – Arusha, Tanzania
• Effect of HIV and AIDS Globally – Kuala Lampur, Malaysia