The Board of Airline Representatives of South Africa (Barsa) has appointed Ndiphiwe Ntuli, as new General Manager.
Ntuli brings years of expertise in the aviation sector to his new role, including seven years at Airports Company South Africa, as Group Head of Stakeholder Relations.
He also spent several years as the Country Manager for South African Tourism in Japan, as well as Director for Inter-governmental Coordination and International Tourism Liaison at the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism.
Highlights during Ntuli’s career include his role in co-ordinating the tourism industry response to the Department of Transport’s aviation policy framework, which included establishing a fair air services bilateral negations framework, as well as his role in government negotiations that led to several co-operative agreements with international agencies and governments, including the Approved Destinations Status with the People’s Republic of China.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Vista University, a postgraduate degree in Public and Development Management from the University of the Witwatersrand, and certificate courses in Brand Development and Marketing Management, Project Management and Risk Management.
Protea Hotels by Marriott and African Pride Hotels has appointed Avukile Mabambo as Group Marketing Manager, from July this year.
Mabambo has sound experience in brand management, having studied media studies and leadership. He has worked on a number of alcohol brands for the Really Great Brand Company (RGBC) and Brandhouse Beverages before joining Monster Energy as Regional Marketing Manager.
Jeanette Moloto has been appointed Account Director of Sub-Saharan Africa and West Africa for Marriott International.
She will be based in Johannesburg, focusing on strengthening relationships with key buying influencers in the travel market, and on sales for all Marriott’s lodging brands.
Moloto rejoins Marriott after just under a year as Regional Manager for the African Business Travel Association. She previously spent over ten years with Protea Hotels by Marriott, working in various sales positions.
The Southern Africa Tourism Services Association recently held Annual General Meeting for its various chapters, welcoming newly elected committee members. Chairperson for the Western Cape is Illana Clayton from African Smart Crew, Vice Chair is Nathier Fakier from SATIB Insurance Brokers, other Committee Members include Rafik Romaney from Tripos Travel, Collin Thaver from Southern Africa 360, Kirsten Manning from Grant Thornton, Janet Pillai from MLT Corp Transport, Clinton Lerm from SA Forest Adventures, and Keira Powers from Spirit of Africa.
Co-opted members include Helen Baker from Awol Tours, and Judy Mannering from Aquila Game Reserve.
For the Eastern Cape, Dewald Niemann from, Tsitsikamma Tourism Association was elected Chairperson, with Vice Chair Jonker Fourie from Ecotour. Nicolette Saayman from Summerstrand Hotel was elected Secretary.
Other Committee Members include Done Louw from Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism, Susan Wilson from the Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Agency, Geoff Foster from Ezethu Tours, Velile Ndlumbini from Imonti Tours, Colin Dilland from East Cape Tours and Safaris, and Igna Tregoning from Shield Tours.
Chairperson for Limpopo is Evelien Klokman, from Kukummi Safaris, Vice Chair is Jaco Sheepers from Sable Tours, and Secretary is Lorraine Ntimana, from Tzaneen Country Lodge.
Chairperson for Mpumalanga is Francois Grove, from Safaris Direct, Vice Chair is Anne Briggs, from Mfafa Safaris, Secretary is Melissa Brockmann from Vula Tours, and newly elected Committee Member, Vangie van der Merwe, from Tydon Safaris.
For the North West, Julius Ramotse, from Sun International will serve as Chairperson, and Khosi Tyobeka, from Zimasa Travel as Vice Chair.
KwaZulu Natal sees Graeme Watson from Thompsons Africa as Chairperson, Rung Button from Inspirations IT as Vice chair, and Secretary, Pippa Sharratt Coote, from Sprout Consulting.
Other Committee Members for the province include Natasha Bame from ResRequest, Bernadine Galliver from Grant Thornton, and Kyasha Bhoola from African Link.
Tamsyn Wells has been appointed Executive Chef at the African Pride 15 on Orange in Cape Town.
She has 15 years’ experience, starting as a student at the Silwood School of Cookery. She soon obtained her Cordon Bleu Diploma and was named Student on the Year during her studies.
Wells worked at several of Cape Town’s leading hotels and restaurants, joining the African Pride 15 on Orange in 2009. She worked as Senior Sous Chef and Executive Sous Chef before her current appointment.
Simbavati Safari Lodges recently welcomed its first qualified female Tracker, Lizbeth Ndlovu, who was Head of Housekeeping at Simbavati Hilltop Lodge, in the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve in Limpopo.
Ndlovu will continue her current career but will act as a Relief Tracker whenever required.
Mbongeni Mathebula at Simbavati Safari Lodges, Machaton Private Camp has qualified as a Field Guide, and will be moving on to a full-time guiding position.
