3 May 2007
Home Affairs Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula today announces the
appointment of the new Director-General of the Department of Home Affairs.
Approved by Cabinet yesterday, the new Director-General, Mavuso Msimang,
will assume his duties on 15 May 2007.
Mr Msimang is a previous CEO of South African National Parks (Sanparks),
South Africa's international tourism marketing body Satour, and most recently
the State Information Technology Agency (SITA).
With a long and distinguished career in a number of countries before
returning to South Africa from exile, Mr Msimang combines broad international
experience with several years at the helm of very large and complex
organisations in South Africa.
"His experience in driving the commercialisation of the National Parks
whilst involving local communities in a wide range of economic development
activities related to conservation, and his remarkable turnarounds of the
fortunes of SITA has given us the confidence that he is the right man to assist
in successfully mastering the challenges we face at Home Affairs," said
Minister Mapisa-Nqakula.
According to an independent client survey, Mr Msimang's tenure at SITA has
seen customer satisfaction with the services provided by the State Information
Technology Agency rise by 50% over the past 18 months.
The survey 18 months ago of government departments supported by SITA showed
42% were satisfied with the service provided, while the most recent survey
completed about six weeks ago indicates that the figure has risen to a 63%
satisfaction rate.
Besides this significant upward trend, incidences of corruption related to
procurement by SITA have been dramatically reduced to insignificant levels
during Mr Msimang's tenure. He has a reputation as a hands-on manager able to
bring order and stability to large organisations.
"Our key challenges are indicated in the Intervention Task Team Report which
I have presented to Cabinet and the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Home
Affairs and on which a process of interaction with my department has started,"
said Minister Mapisa-Nqakula.
"We must get Information Technology right, we must fight corruption more
effectively, including through the implementation of systems designed to
prevent it, and we must improve our client orientation. We are confident that
Mr Msimang's experience and track record in these and other crucial areas will
provide major impetus for our programme to turn the department around and move
towards our ultimate goal of making it a leading example of service provision
by government to the people."
Mr Msimang started his international career as a United Nations (UN)
volunteer working on health and refugee programmes in Zambia. He subsequently
worked for the World Food Programme in Kenya, co-ordinating trans-shipment of
food to Uganda, southern Sudan, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of
Congo.
Mr Msimang served as Care International's country director in Kenya and in a
similar function for World University Service of Canada in Ethiopia. Both are
international relief agencies. He was also in charge of United Nations
International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) emergency programmes in
Ethiopia.
"Home Affairs presents a significant challenge, and I am honoured that
government has entrusted me with this important role," said Mr Msimang. "I look
forward to working with the department in ensuring that service levels improve
in the interest of our people."
He holds a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree in Entomology from the
University of Zambia and an MBA in Project Management from United States
International University in San Diego. He is married with three grown up
daughters.
Enquiries:
Cleo Mosana
Spokesperson
Ministry of Home Affairs
Cell: 082 902 8796
Issued by: Department of Home Affairs
3 May 2007
