Adv. Oyama Mabandla
With a Juris doctorate from the Columbia University School of Law, Mabandla is a seasoned scholar and corporate figure who brings invaluable experience to the corporation in areas such as corporate law, securities and capital markets, mergers and acquisitions, and international trade and investment. He is a member of the advisory board for financial services company JP Morgan and chairs the Langa Group, a holding company with investments in petroleum and pharmaceuticals. Mabandla is the former group chairman of the Vodacom Group and Consol Glass, Africa’s biggest glass consol company.
 
Dr Somadoda Fikeni
Dr Fikeni was the founder of the former University of the Transkei’s*, Reconstruction and Development Programme unit which is now known as the Rural Research and Development Institute. He serves as Chairperson of the Walter Sisulu University council. * The University of the Transkei is now known as the Walter Sisulu University.
 
Ms Nothemba Mlonzi
Nothemba 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 Managing Director of Econ Oil and Energy.
 
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, Gaster 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.
 
Mr John Cerff
Currently the chief financial officer at Aspire (Amathole Economic Development Agency), John is a qualified chartered accountant who has served as a non-executive director on more than 14 boards including ECDC and the East London Industrial Development Zone. John was previously a partner at Fisher Hoffman Sithole CA (SA) and also served ECDC as its corporate finance executive manager and Skyros Property Investment as its finance director.
 
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.
 
Ms Yolisa Tyantsi
Yolisa is a public speaker and charted public relations practitioner with 11 years radio journalism experience. She has extensive practice in private and public sector corporate communication, brand and reputation management, business strategy development, training and change management. She is currently the executive director for Sinsa Consulting and Lathithaa Consulting Services and has served as non-executive director for the Johannesburg Civic Theatre.
 
Prof Mkhalelwa Mazibuko
Prof Mazibuko is the chief executive officer of Ruliv, a non-governmental organisation that promotes sustainable urban and rural livelihoods. Apart from being a political activist, academic, civil servant and a social community development practitioner, he currently serves as the chairperson of the boards of Novafrika, a centre for innovation and development, and the Eastern Cape Appeal Development Tribunal.
 
Prof Sipho Buthelezi
His strong background in research, coupled with his expertise in the areas of public enterprise, globalisation, 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 Sitembele Mase
A graduate of Unisa’s Master of Business Leadership (MBL), Sitembele Mase is experienced in investments, change management and services marketing. Mase, was the former CEO of the micro finance institution South African Micro Finance Apex Fund (SAMAF). He spent the earlier part of his career working in the province where he gained valuable experience and knowledge of the province’s opportunities and challenges. His knowledge is intimate having worked for ECDC’s predecessor, the Transkei Development Corporation (TDC), initially as a business analyst and later as senior manager responsible for Queenstown, Cradock and Aliwal North.