Corporate world central to new CSA board

The newly constructed CSA board will be chaired by one of the country's top bankers and also includes high-profile businessman and legal experts. The five independent directors were selected by a nominations committee as part of the Nicholson Committee recommendations that the organisation completely overhaul its governing structures and streamline its board.

What was previously a 22-member board has been halved and five of the 11 members on the new board come from the corporate world. The remaining six will come from five provincial presidents and CSA's chief executive and will be voted in at the AGM on October 27. By then, suspended boss Gerald Majola's disciplinary hearing, which is continuing in his absence, will be complete and he will either be back at work or CSA will be in the process of appointing a new head.

The process of choosing the independent directors took two months and resulted in the selection of Louis von Zeuner, Dawn Mokhobo, Vusi Pikoli, Mohamed Iqbal Khan and Geoff Whyte. All the nominees are of high pedigree and have been met with approval from CSA's current leadership.

"I am delighted by the quality of the independent component of our new board and I know they will work well with the other members to lead CSA into an exciting new era," Willie Basson, CSA acting president said.

Von Zeuner is currently deputy group chief executive of Absa Group Ltd, one of the country's big four banks.

Mokhobo is a former South African businesswoman of the year and was previously involved with the UN. She chaired a committee which looked into women in economic decision making. Currently, she is chairperson of a mining company and serves on the boards of several other companies.

Pikoli is a member of the EU Foundation for Human Rights and the Magistrate's Commission and also serves as a Trustee of the Constitutional Court - the highest legal authority in the country. He was fired as head of the country's National Prosecuting Authority but is known for being behind the laying of criminal charges against former police commissioner Jackie Selebi, who has since been found guilty of corruption, and president Jacob Zuma.

Khan is a member of the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants and works as chief operating officer for Old Mutual Investment Group South Africa, a financial institutional. He is also a former cricketer and played for SA Schools under the South African Cricket Union and the South African Cricket Board (the body set up for non-white players).

Whyte has worked for Unilever, Pepsico, Cadbury Schweppes and SAB-Miller. He was named marketing person of the year in 2009 by the Sunday Times and was a judge of the major marketing and media experience awards in the country.

The independent directors will be ratified at the AGM in 11 days.