Prof Sipho Buthelezi
His strong background in research, coupled with his expertise in the areas of public enterprise, globalisation and land and agrarian activities in Africa have landed him on the board of the History Advisory Panel of Freedom Park in Gauteng. Prof Buthelezi is currently the director of the School of Public Management and Development at the University of Fort Hare.
 
Mr John Cerff
He brings a wealth of auditing and accounting knowledge to his post on the board of ECDC. He currently serves as chief financial officer at Aspire, Amathole District’s economic development agency.
 
Dr Somadoda Fikeni
Dr Fikeni was the founder of the former University of Transkei’s, now Walter Sisulu University, RDP unit, which evolved into the Rural Research and Development Institute. He serves as Chairperson of the Walter Sisulu University council
 
Adv. Oyama Mabandla
His years of experience and track record of success speaks volumes and his appointment ensures continuity at ECDC. Oyama holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of California at San Diego and a Juris Doctorate from Columbia University School of Law in New York City. Oyama is a representative of Telkom and joined the Board in January 2006. He is Executive Chairman of the Langa Group, a corporate investment company and also chairman of Consol Glass (Proprietary) Limited. He is the former deputy CEO of South African Airways, which he also served as general counsel and executive vice president for Strategy, Revenue Management and Network Planning. In the mid 1990s he worked as a merchant banker at Union Bank of Switzerland. He later became a member of the Johannesburg Bar.
 
Prof Mkhalelwa Mazibuko
Prof Mazibuko, who holds a masters degree from the University of Zimbabwe, is the programme manager at Ruliv. He attained this after a bachelors degree from Webster University in Switzerland and a masters from the University of Zimbabwe. He is currently busy with a doctorate in Business administration.
 
Ms Nothemba Mlonzi
Ms Mlonzi has served on the boards of South Africa Civil Aviation Authority, the South African National Energy Research Institute and as the chairperson of Amatola Water Board. She is currently MD of Econ Oil and Energy.
 
Ms Noxolo Mteto
Noxolo is a graduate of the Universities of Transkei and South Africa who was admitted as an attorney in 2000. Two years later she was admitted as a conveyancer followed by admission as a notary public. Currently she is the director of Ngeno and Mteto Incorporated, a firm she founded in 2002.
 
Ms Bulelwa Nqadolo
Bulelwa is the chief financial officer for the Provincial Treasury where she has worked since 2001. She received her Bcompt degree in 1994 from UNISA and is studying towards her Masters in Public Financial Management through the University of London.
 
Mr Mninawe Pepi Silinga
He serves in the capacity of Non-Executive Chairperson of Agreement SA as well as Chairperson of the Council of University of Fort Hare. He has worked in the NGO sector, private civil engineering consulting fraternity and the public sector. Silinga is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Coega Development Corporation.
 
Mr Gaster Sharpley
Having penned numerous books on small business development, Mr Sharpley is an expert in the areas of local economic development, social facilitation and development, business law, local government legislation and cooperative governance. He serves on the Mthatha City Council as executive chairman.
 
Ms Nosisi Tyantsi
Currently the MD for Lathithaa Consulting Services Nosisi graduated from the University of Fort Hare with a BA in communications in 1991, followed by several courses in leadership, executive programmes, woman management, media and marketing studies.