MARKET NEWS

Tourism KZN appoints Pinky Radebe as new communications manager

Tourism KwaZulu-Natal has appointed Pinky Radebe as senior manager for public relations and communications.

Ms Radebe takes office at a critical time when TKZN will be looking to speedily recover the tourism and hospitality industry which supports thousands of jobs and livelihoods in the province, whilst clawing back to number one spot as a tourist destination.

Ms Radebe matriculated at Marburg Secondary School and attained a diploma in journalism from Durban University of Technology. She also attained a bachelor of technology in public relations management with distinctions. She has completed a post graduate diploma in leadership from the University of KwaZulu-Natal.

From 2002 to 2005, Ms Radebe worked as a journalist for a local news publication in Port Shepstone. Thereafter, she joined Ugu District Municipality, Umzube and Umuziwabantu Local Municipalities in various divisions, dealing with committee and council secretariat, public relations and communications.

When she joined the provincial tourism promotion agency in 2005, she was responsible for board and board committee administration, managing the office of the board chairperson, stakeholder interaction as well as administrating senior management meetings.

From 2006 to 2009, she was the public relations and communications officer within the chief executive officer’s department and was responsible for corporate communications, corporate events, media liaison, image building, and internal and external stakeholder liaison.

From 2009 to 2013, Ms Radebe was the project manager: transformation in the tourism development department within TKZN. She was responsible for the implementation of the tourism transformation/BBB-EE strategies.

Since 2013, she has been the manager: board secretariat, risk and compliance services in the office of the chief executive officer, where she is responsible for board and board committee secretariat, enterprise risk management, corporate governance compliance, as well as fulfilling special project management with the office of the chief executive officer.

Ms Radebe has fulfilled company secretariat obligations and managed the budget within the chief executive officer’s office. Her competencies include strong organisational knowledge, good communication and analytical skills, report writing and interpersonal skills.

Her key strength is developing and maintaining relationships with key stakeholders in spheres of government, the tourism trade, media and the private sector.