Dr Kgabi Mogajane, the former Deputy Director General for Agricultural Production, Health, and Food Safety in the Department Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries is now the new Head of Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in the North West province.
This was confirmed yesterday, (Monday), by Mr Boitumelo Tshwene, the MEC for Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, during a departmental management meeting.
Dr Mogajane, South Africa’s first black woman veterinarian, is not new to the department, and to the agricultural sector in particular, since she has served this department as an Accounting Officer before. She takes over the baton from Mr Iqbal Motala who was deployed to the department after the end of Mr Paul Mogotlhe’s term as the Head of Department in April this year.
Dr Mogajane who is from Lobatla village in the Ramotshere Moiloa local municipality, holds a Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery which she obtained in 1987 from the then Medical University of Southern Africa (MEDUNSA) and a Diploma in Dairy Husbandry and Milk Processing which she obtained from the Oenkerk College, Netherlands in 1995. She also holds a certificate in Senior Executive Programme for Southern Africa, which she acquired through the University of Witwatersrand in conjunction with Harvard University.
Dr Mogajane’s working experience started in 1988 when she was appointed a State Veterinarian for the then Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, here in Mahikeng. She later joined the academic sector as a Junior and Senior lecturer respectively, at the Medical University of Southern Africa (MEDUNSA)’s Department of Production Animal Medicine from 1990 to 1995. She re-joined the public sector in 1995 when she was appointed a National Director for Animal Health by the National Department of Agriculture, and later a Chief Director responsible for Agricultural Production; a position which paved the way for her appointment as Head of the then North West Department of Agriculture, Conservation, Environment and Tourism in 2005.
Welcoming Dr Mogajane as the new Accounting Officer, MEC Tshwene said he is confident that Mogajane’s leadership and governance skills will help take the department to greater heights.
“We are positive that these skills, coupled with the sound sector knowledge that you have acquired over the years, will help us attain our set objectives of ensuring a vibrant agricultural sector and sustainable livelihoods,” said MEC Tshwene, who maintained that Dr Mogajane’s appointment will yield positive results in response to government’s emphasis on rural development and food security.
Embracing the warm welcome she received on her first day, Dr Mogajane said she remains steadfast in her commitment to guide the department in achieving its key priorities as set out. She encouraged management to work as a team to ensure that the department’s vision is wholly attained, saying “we will not be able to deliver on our mandate if we do not support each other as managers.”
Enquiries:
Bonolo Mohlakoana
Tel: (018) 389 5719
Cell: 082 901 2435
Email: bmohlakoana@nwpg.gov.za
North West Department of Agriculture and Rural Development appoint new Head of Department
Province
