The Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Khangeziwe Mabuza, has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer of the Sincephetelo Motor Vehicle Accidents Fund (SMVAF).
The appointment was announced by Neal Rijkenberg, the Minister of Finance, during a press briefing held at the Ministry of Finance offices in Mbabane earlier today.
Mabuza has been seconded to SMVAF for a 12-month term, effective immediately. Rijkenberg stressed that this is not an acting appointment, but a substantive CEO role specifically tailored to stabilise and reform the institution, which has faced significant leadership challenges over the past year.
SMVAF has been operating without a full executive team following the resignations of its CEO, Chief Financial Officer, and Chief Operations Officer. The minister described the situation as a “serious leadership vacuum” that required urgent intervention.
“We have been experiencing issues at SMVAF,” Rijkenberg said. “We had resignations from the CEO, CFO, and COO. As a government, we sat down and realized the entity needs strong leadership to address the problems it faces.”
He said Mabuza was chosen as the top candidate because of her proven leadership skills and experience in public administration. “We believe she can be strategically placed at SMVAF to address the issues, guide the turnaround efforts, and restore the institution to full stability.”
The minister noted that SMVAF had already started implementing a turnaround strategy, but internal disruptions had disrupted progress. Mabuza’s appointment is expected to revive and strengthen that process.
Rijkenberg added that after the 12-month period, the government will decide whether to extend Mabuza’s term or start a public recruitment process for a permanent CEO. He emphasized that it is important to note that Mabuza’s appointment is not on an acting basis.
Mabuza, who was informed of the appointment just minutes before the press briefing, expressed gratitude and readiness to accept the challenge. She will oversee ongoing reforms, enhance governance structures, and ensure that SMVAF effectively fulfills its mandate.