Jason Ngobeni, former executive director for economic development in the City of Johannesburg, has been appointed as City Manager for Tshwane.

JASON Ngobeni, the new City Manager of the City of Tshwane, has assumed his duties after being appointed through a Council resolution of 28 July in terms of sections 54(a) and 58 of the Municipal Systems Act, 32 of 2000.

As the former Executive Director: Economic Development of the City of Johannesburg he brings expertise in finance, credit control, treasury management and economic development. The newly-appointed City Manager is a torch-bearer of change and no stranger to Tshwane.

Ngobeni was with the City of Johannesburg for almost a decade, first as City Treasurer and then as Executive Director: Economic Development. While he was Executive Director: Economic Development, Ngobeni led the rolling out of the broadband network project, which will culminate in over 900 km fibre-optic cables installed throughout Johannesburg, bridging the digital divide along racial lines and income levels.

He also facilitated the recapitalisation of old and derelict buildings in Johannesburg so as to redevelop and revitalise the inner city.

As City Treasurer, he was instrumental in issuing the first municipal bond to be issued by a South African local authority. He was also instrumental in raising Johannesburg's fiscal profile by reducing debt cost and helping to raise the credit rating from BBB+ to A.

In 2004, he was one of the top three finalists for the Best Treasurer of the Year Award of the Association of Black Securities and Investment Professionals. After initially studying at a rural university, Ngobeni went on to complete a B Com (Hons) and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree at the University of Pretoria.

“The MBA broadened my financial and social knowledge. It taught me to live a goal-led life,” he says. Ngobeni’s areas of expertise are finance, credit, financial risk, treasury management and economic development, and he sets his sights on lofty goals and raises the benchmark wherever he goes.

Ngobeni seems to be more than equipped for the task of City Manager of the third-largest metropolitan authority in the world. We wish him well in his new endeavours

Source: Tshwane