A DELICATE BALANCING ACT – MAKHUKHU MAMPURU, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF NEDLAC
THE ROLE DEMANDS NOT ONLY EXECUTIVE OVERSIGHT AND
Each step taught me something different about leadership and public accountability,” he says. Born in the rural village of Mohlaletse, in GaSekhukhune, Limpopo province, Makhukhu matriculated from Filadelfia Secondary School in Soshanguve in 1991. A steadfast believer in the value of education, Makhukhu always planned to go to university. “I always knew I’d go to university. Initially, I wanted to be a medical doctor. Later, I was drawn to law. In the end, I found my path in development studies.” “By the time I enrolled at UJ, then Rand Afrikaans University (RAU), I was already an anti-apartheid youth and student activist. I’d been expelled from Wits for protest activity – so it was no surprise I continued with student politics at RAU, though in a more toned-down way,” he says. He represented black students in the University’s inaugural transformation forum and pushed for a more inclusive Student Representative Council through constitutional reform. “Together with the outgoing student council, we pushed for constitutional revision to ensure fairer, more representative student governance,” he recalls. In 1996, he graduated with a BA Honours in Development Studies. Makhukhu says he is sustained by a strong personal philosophy and inner discipline. “I subscribe to the motto: A good day starts in the morning. Explaining how I arrived at that – and why – would fill a book... or ten!” In high-pressure environments, he relies on meditation and reflection to stay centred. “One of the many tools I’ve learned over the years is to meditate, twice a day. It’s one of several ways I manage stress and keep perspective.” Married, and a father of two children, one a girl at varsity and a boy, currently at high school, Makhukhu says his children have become “a firm part of my life outside of work ... school drop-off and pickup, Saturday morning sports, choir, etc. Because my son plays schoolboy rugby, it has become a bit of a hobby for me to watch live rugby,” he says. ACCOUNTABILITY BUT ALSO DEFT FACILITATION OF STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT, NEGOTIATION, AND CONSENSUS-BUILDING ON ISSUES CENTRAL TO SOUTH AFRICA’S SOCIO- ECONOMIC FUTURE.
Makhukhu Mampuru is the executive director of the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac), and as such, occupies a pivotal role at the intersection of South Africa’s socioeconomic and political discourse. Nedlac facilitates cooperation among government, labour, business, and community organisations on matters of economic policy, labour issues, and national development. In his position, Makhukhu serves as both administrative head and accounting officer of Nedlac, as defined by the Public Finance Management Act, reporting to the Nedlac Executive Council (Exco), the apex governance structure of the organisation, which comprises equal representation from the four key social partner constituencies. The role demands not only executive oversight and accountability but also deft facilitation of stakeholder engagement, negotiation, and consensus-building on issues central to South Africa’s socio-economic future. “It’s a delicate balancing act, ensuring that everyone is heard and the institution remains focused on its mandate,” he says. With a career spanning the NGO sector, self-employment as a management consultant, and substantial experience in all three spheres of government – local, provincial, and national – Makhukhu has cultivated a diverse and impactful leadership journey. “I’ve served at almost every level – operational to strategic, from local to national – and ultimately as director-general.
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ALUMNI IMPUMELELO
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