Mr Thulani Nzima, Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
With a wealth of experience in the field of travel and tourism, Mr Thulani Nzima took up his current position as Chief Executive Officer of South African Tourism in January 2012. Mr Nzima is responsible for steering the mandate and all operations of the national destination-marketing organisation’s head office and its country offices.
His illustrious career began in the banking industry in 1987. In 1991, he joined South African Airways (SAA) and spent 14 years honing his skills in all aspects of the local and international travel and tourism sector. Nzima worked his way up through the national airline, holding numerous key positions along the way. He worked in the African, Asian, Australian and Benelux markets, as well as locally, culminating in his position as Senior Executive Manager and the driving force behind the strategic realignment of SAA’s Voyager programme.
After a stellar career at SAA, Nzima joined the South African Travel Centre (SATC) in 2005 as the company’s Chief Executive Officer, where he excelled at re-energising the business model, creating new revenue streams and developing key strategic alliances. He has held the position of Director and Board Member at the SATC Group, was a Director and Chairman of Travel Experience (Pty) Ltd and a Board Member of GlobalStar TMC International.
Nzima joined AVIS Rent-A-Car South Africa in 2007 as Director of Sales and Marketing. He was responsible for the company’s sales and marketing strategy and all revenue-generating business streams, as well as its international sales-strategy development and the company’s website-development, communications and public relations strategies. While at AVIS, he served as Divisional Board Director for AVIS Rent-A-Car South Africa.
Nzima is passionate about South Africa as a destination, as well as the travel and tourism industry as a whole. No doubt his extensive experience, vision and commitment to excellence stand him in good stead as CEO of South African Tourism.
Mr Timothy Scholtz Chief Operating Officer (COO)
In November 2010, Mr Timothy Scholtz was appointed as South African Tourism's (SAT) Chief Operating Officer (COO). His impressive career spans the non-profit, retail and financial management sectors of the South African economy. He also has extensive experience in Corporate Services and execution.
In his spare time, he is the chairman of two non-profit organisations, one dealing with young entrepreneurs and the other dealing with a job creation initiative with rural papermaking entities. His experience in international compliance and his passion for non-profit organisations began in 2003, when he was Chief Financial Officer and COO of the Nelson Mandela Foundation. He holds an Institute of Accounting Commerce membership as an Accounting Officer.
Scholtz entered the retail sector in 1984, after completing his B.Comm degree at the University of South Africa. He started his career with Saftainer, the container division of Safmarine. Starting as a branch clerk, he rose to the position of Financial Manager in just 10 years and, ultimately, business auditor in 1995.
His career then naturally progressed into financial management and internal auditing. In 1999, he relocated to Johannesburg as part of the Risk Consulting team at Arthur Andersen and Co.
Mr Scholtz joined the National Business Initiative (NBI) as the Financial Manager for the Business Trust (April 2000). Just over a year later, he was promoted to the Director of Financial and Administration, reporting to the Chief Executive Officer. He successfully managed a R1 billion programme, an initiative between business and government, to build a sustainable socio-economic post-apartheid South Africa. Whilst at the NBI, he continued part-time studies and obtained a Post Graduate Diploma in Information Management at the University of Johannesburg.
In November 2003, Mr Scholtz joined the Nelson Mandela Foundation as Chief Operating Officer, reporting to the Chief Executive Officer. He spent a fulfilling four years in this post, before deciding to join FranklinCovey SA, a leadership training and consulting business. This is where his Corporate Services and Execution capabilities were fine-tuned, mastering the art of getting things done within 17 countries in Southern and East Africa.
Chief Marketing Officer
Roshene Singh is currently employed by South African Tourism as Chief Marketing Officer. As such, Singh’s primary responsibility is to deliver on the Tourism Growth Strategy which is aimed at ensuring that South Africa is the preferred destination for leisure and business travel. This entails: fine-tuning the data driven Marketing Growth Strategy; developing marketing plans; leading the portfolio and country teams in their execution of plans.
She is also responsible for sustaining brand growth globally, by enhancing the use of research in developing brand communications. Singh has been in the marketing department of South African Tourism since 2003, first managing the Domestic portfolio to entrench a culture of travel amongst South Africans, then the Europe portfolio where she championed arrivals form core markets in Europe.
Singh has previously worked as a high school English teacher as well as in training and development for teachers in township schools in the early nineties. She moved into the area of marketing and campaigns in 1993 and worked for the African National Congress (ANC) for eight years in election campaigning and organizational training. She headed up the Elections Unit for five years.
Her experience has led to great knowledge about South Africa and its people. She has always been committed to making a better life for all and her work is inspired by her passion and commitment.
Roshene Singh has a master’s degree in Adult Education from Wits University and is in possession of BA, BEd and HDE qualifications. She has also attended various short term marketing and communication courses.
Thembi Kunene
Thembi Kunene, obtained her BA Communications degree from Fort Hare University in 1988. Her postgraduate studies and short courses include a Management Development Program (University of Pretoria), Finance for non-Financial Management Certificate (Wits Business School) and ‘Building High Performance Boards” (IMD, Geneva).
From 1989 to 1993 Thembi held various positions starting as teller at the Perm Building Society (banking), Client Service at O & M (advertising) and as Assistant Public Relations at the Industrial Development Corporation (PR).
In 1994, Thembi joined the Airports Company South Africa (ACSA), as the Public Relations Officer for the then Johannesburg International Airport, and 3years later became the 1st Black person, the 1st woman and the youngest person ever to manage an airport in South Africa in 1997 – George Airport. Thembi got promoted to the Assistant General Manager position for Durban International Airport less than two years later.
1n 2000, Thembi joined the City of Johannesburg to assist with the restructuring and commercialization of its entities and effectively turned the Johannesburg Zoo into a fully operational Section 21 entity, with its own systems and processes.
2003, saw Thembi join the Bidvest Group as the Commercial Director of Bidfreight where she drove the Division’s transformation and business development objectives culminating in securing long-term leases for key properties around the Ports in South Africa which facilitated further capital investments due to security of tenure – resulting in improved share value for Bidvest shareholders. For this, Thembi was recognized by Brian Joffee and awarded an “Excellent and Distinguished Service’’ certificate.
May 2006 saw Thembi leave Bidvest to pursue her entrepreneurial activities and spent a year setting up Siyazi Investment Holdings.
In August 2007, Thembi joined the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa (TGCSA) as its new CEO with her main responsibility being to ensure quality graded tourism accommodation in South Africa.
During 2009, the TGCSA was fully integrated into South African Tourism, resulting in Thembi being appointed on the SAT Exco, the highest decision-making body over 17 Business Units reporting to the SAT, CEO – which meant a title change to Chief Quality Assurance Officer, a position she currently still holds.
Thembi serves / has served in a non-Executive capacity on the following:
- MATCH Advisory Board -body that advised FIFA on the delivery of a successful 2010 World Cup in South Africa. (2008- 2010)
- Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund (10years - 2001-2010)
- Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) (6years - 2002-2008)
- Cape Town Routes Unlimited, (2years – 2008- 2010)
- Tourvest (2005-todate)
- Siyazi Investment Holdings,(2005 to date)
- Siyazi Technology,(5 years 2005-2010 )
Chief Financial Officer
He came to South African Tourism from the SF Consumer Network (Pty) Ltd where he was a 50 percent partner and Financial Director in a company that turned over some R35 million per annum.
Van der Walt has built a finance and administration team at South African Tourism that delivers effective and efficient management in 14 international markets. His responsibilities include (but are not limited to) stakeholder management, project evaluation, treasury and corporate finance, internal auditing, reporting and budget control.
He has overseen and ensured the delivery of world-class internal controls, policies and procedures at South African Tourism that are Public Finance and Management Act (PFMA) compliant. Under his leadership, the organisation has achieved seven unqualified audits to date. He has implemented an enterprise resource planning solution for the organisation and has achieved ISO 9001 compliance for South African Tourism, making the organisation the first government entity to achieve such compliance.
Van der Walt has a BCompt and BCompt honours (both from the University of the Free State, South Africa), a CA and a MCom (cum laude) from the University of Johannesburg (previously called Rand Afrikaans University). He is a member of the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants and the Public Accountants and Auditors Board.
He lives in Johannesburg with his family and enjoys gardening and reading in his spare time.
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