Rhodes University welcomes the appointment of its Board of Governors Chairperson, alumnus and the Executive in Residence at the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS), Mr Andile Sangqu, to the position of the chair of the Transnet Board.
Mr Sangqu was appointed by the Minister of Public Enterprises, Mr Pravin Gordhan, this week. Minister Gordhan said the new appointment would strengthen the group's corporate governance and put Transnet on a firm strategic path.
Mr Sangqu has previously served as the executive head for Anglo-American in South Africa and served as an executive director on the Anglo-American South Africa board.
In this role, he worked with the South African-based businesses to help deliver the group’s strategy in the region, provide leadership and co-ordination to the group’s stakeholder relations initiatives in South Africa, and facilitated regional alignment with the group’s central functions.
“I consider it to be a singular honour to be afforded the opportunity to serve the [Transnet] Board and the country in this capacity at this time in our history,” said Mr Sangqu.
Mr Sangqu has been serving as a member of the Rhodes University Board of Governors (BoG) since 2014. In May 2019, he was elected Chairperson of BoG and is currently serving his second term as the Chairperson.
Rhodes University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sizwe Mabizela, congratulated Mr Sangqu for “a thoroughly deserved appointment.”
“Mr Sangqu has the professional, intellectual, and business pedigree required for leadership at this level. He is more than equal to the challenges that will come his way as he serves as the Board Chairperson at Transnet. We know that he can pull the entity onto a much better trajectory. He possesses a formidable agency, acumen and deep-rooted patriotism required in this role. As Rhodes University, we are immensely proud of him and his achievements and have confidence that he will serve the board and the country with great distinction. We warmly congratulate him on his appointment,” said Professor Mabizela.
Mr Sangqu’s qualifications include a Bachelor of Accounting Science (Honours), a Bachelor of Commerce, a Postgraduate Diploma in Accountancy from Rhodes University, a Masters degree in Business Leadership, Higher Diploma in Tax Law and he completed an Advanced Management Programme (AMP) at Insead Business School. He also holds an HCCM (Higher Certificate in Christian Ministry) and is an accredited Lay Preacher in the Methodist Church of Southern Africa.
Mr Sangqu was previously the Group Executive of sustainability and risk at Impala Platinum and brings extensive commercial, mining and stakeholder relations experience from his former executive and board roles.
Before his role at Impala Platinum, Mr Sangqu was Executive Director for Glencore Xstrata South Africa. He served on the Chamber of Mines’ National Development Plan Committee and held executive and non-executive roles at Kagiso Trust Investments. He served as a Director of Business Leadership SA, Vice-President of the Minerals Council South Africa, and Deputy Chairperson of NEPAD Business Foundation. He is an independent non-executive Director of Tongaat Hulett and PSG Consult.
Mr Sangqu is completing his PhD studies at GIBS.