Board of Directors

Dr. Mnyande is an Independent Consultant offering Strategic Advisory Services to key clients in the public and private sectors, both nationally and internationally. He currently serves as a member of the Eastern Cape Planning Commission and one of the Advisors to the Premier of the Eastern Cape. He is also a Council Member and Advisor at Gerson Lehrman Group (GLG), located in New York, USA.

Dr Mnyande was Chief Economist & Advisor to the Governor at the South African Reserve Bank from 2009 until 2012. He was a member of the Monetary Policy Committee, the Board of Directors of the South African Mint (Pty) Ltd and the Board of Directors of the South African Bank Note (Pty) Ltd. He chaired the Board of the South African Reserve Bank Captive Insurance Company Limited (SARBCIC). He is Vice President of the Economic Society of South Africa and a certified International Central Banking Professional.He holds an MA (Finance) degree from Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri; an MBA degree from St. Louis University, as well as a PhD (Economics) from the New School University in New York.

Dr Ishmael Poolo
PhD (Management of Technology and Innovation), MSc (Management of Technology and Innovation), B-Tech Mechanical Engineering, NDip Mechanical Engineering, Artisan Fitter Certificate

Dr Poolo is a seasoned executive with over 20 years’ experience in the energy sector. He has demonstrable ability and business acumen in initiating projects and delivering sustained results. His strength lies in strategizing and leading cross-functional teams in the improvement of business processes aim at delivering shareholder value –both as a leader and expert consultant in the energy sector. He was appointed to the position in 2020.

Ms. Sondlo is the CEO of Sondlo Chartered Accountants. She has 18 years’ experience in public and private sector environment where her expertise stretches from external audit, internal audit, risk and financial management as well as audit clean-up operations and preparation of annual financial statements in terms of IFRS & GRAP. She is a member of South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA), Institute of Internal Auditors South Africa (IIASA) and Independent Regulatory Board of Auditors (IRBA).

Advocate Hassan graduated from the University of Natal with a law degree. She established the Women of Africa (WOA) Investment Group in 2005, which is a women-owned, women-managed, Black-Economic Empowerment company strongly committed to gender empowerment. Its extensive networks, solid reputation as a company of integrity, industry expertise as well as its broad ranging partner relationships with private and state-owned finance organisations positions WOA to be a reputable service provider in the pharmaceutical, construction, logistics and energy sectors.

Mr. Poya is a Civil Engineering Technologist with 20 years’ experience in the Road and Railway Industry of which more than 15 years was at Executive Management level. He currently serves as a Director of Umtongata Holdings which has divisions within the Agriculture and Energy sector.

Rail makes up a big portion of Mr. Poya’s experience, having worked for Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) and Spoornet, as well as heading up the team responsible for the Eastern Cape Department of Transport’s Kei Rail project. He also worked as a Deputy Director General (DDG: Transport Infrastructure) responsible for Road Infrastructure, Public Transport and Traffic Management and was involved in management of Maritime activities within the Eastern Cape Province including Port Infrastructure Development and the IDZ’s. Mr. Poya also had an opportunity to work as a CEO of the Railway Safety Regulator where he regulated more than 250 railway operators

Mr Mompati serves as the Chairperson of SFF. He is a teacher by profession, however, he has ventured into various business opportunities spanning from retail, petroleum and mining sector in the last two decades. He is currently, also a non-executive director at the African Share Housing and Northern Cape Mining, specializing in manganese and iron ore. He was appointed a non-executive director at CEF Board in 2016.

Mr Tseliso Maqubela 

Mr Maqubela is currently the DDG for Petroleum and Petroleum Products  Regulations at the Department on Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE). He has 21 years of experience in the energy sector having commenced his career at the Koeberg Nuclear Power Station. He led the drafting team for the Nuclear Energy Policy of SA & is currently the chairperson of the Council for Non-Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Production. He holds a MAP & a BSc (Hons). He was reappointed a non-executive director (DMRE representative) at CEF Board in 2017.

Ms Gosetseone Florence Leketi 

Ms. Leketi is not a newcomer to the oil, petroleum and gas sector. She is currently a Chief Director: Petroleum and Petroleum Products at the DMRE and also serves as a director at the Chieta-Base Chemicals and Petroleum Chamber. She holds a BCom (Hons) Statistics. She was appointed a non-executive director (DMRE representative) at CEF Board in 2016.

Mr Jim Besnaar

Mr Besnaar is currently the CEO for Makomota Investment Holdings (Pty) Ltd who has successfully held senior positions both at provincial and local government level. He also serves as a director/shareholder at Circle Way Trading, Bricksnet, Yard Plant Rentals (Pty) Ltd and Dragon Loo (Pty) Ltd. He is a Chartered Accountant by profession. He was appointed a non-executive director at CEF Board in 2016

Mr. Lufuno Makhuba 

Mr Makhuba is responsible for the CEF Group financial strategic direction, long-term commercial viability and oversees the corporate finance function as well as key Group investments. He has in-depth experience in financial modelling, preparation of AFS (consolidated and unconsolidated), budgeting/forecast, auditing, due-diligence and Corporate Finance as well as Risk Management. He holds an MBL and is a Chartered Accountant by profession.  He was appointed an executive director at CEF Board in 2017.