PROFILES IN LEADERSHIP
Writer: Kgaogelo Letsebe
DG Phindile Baleni – a symbol of public service excellence
D
irector-General
been at the helm of the
(DG) in The
National Energy Regulator
Presidency and
of South Africa as CEO.
Secretary of Cabinet,
She has served on sev-
Phindile Baleni, is the most
eral Boards of Directors,
senior public servant in
including the Boards of the
government.
Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services
Her appointment to the role in April 2021 makes her
Sector Education and
the first female to occupy
Training Authority, and the
this position. She replaced
Council for Scientific and
Dr Cassius Lubisi who held
Industrial Research.
the position since Novem-
Service to others
ber 2010. Baleni, who was previously DG in the Office of
Born and raised in Gaut-
Gauteng Premier from
eng, Baleni says service to others is an ethos she was
2015, has a long, rich hisDirector-General
tory in the public service.
in The Presidency
She completed BProc
Phindile Baleni.
and LLB degrees from
raised with. “I was particularly drawn to government at the dawn
the University of Witwa-
of democracy as the task
tersrand, and after admis-
of reconstruction and de-
sion as an attorney and
velopment of South African
conveyancer, she served
society was very attractive Prior to becoming DG
as legal adviser to the then
where she played a
MEC for Housing and Lo-
strategic role in strategic
in the Gauteng Premier’s
“The opportunity to
cal Government in Gauteng
planning, high-level project
Office, she served as CEO
contribute to building
from 1994 to 1996.
management and the
of state-owned entity Elec-
a new country, starting
development of local-gov-
tricity Distribution Industry
with a brand new human
ernment policy.
Holdings. She has also
rights-based Constitution
In 1996, she joined the City of Johannesburg
18
and hard to resist.
Public Sector Manager • December 2021 / January 2022
