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Women in Leadership - ACSA CEO, Nompumelelo Mpofu
Soaring To The Top
By Koketso Mamabolo
Nine airports with three international gateways and one titan of civil service overseeing it all. With extensive experience in the public sector and qualifications to match, Nompumelelo Mpofu is continuing Airports Company South Africa’s history of worldclass excellence which has seen the organisation win a string of awards since it was established in 1994, when the 9 airports were transferred over to the newly-founded state-owned enterprise. Partial privatisation came in 1998, with the state still being a major stakeholder of a company setting the standard in the public sector
A Career Of Public Service
Prior to taking up the role of CEO of Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) in February 2020, Nompumelelo was the Director-General for the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation in the Presidency, testament to her valuable management and oversight capabilities. She’s also been the Director-General of a couple other government departments: Defence, Transport and Housing, in a career which spans three decades.
“During her tenure as Director-General in the Department of Transport, Mpofu ensured the development, implementation and monitoring of transport policies and strategies in fields including aviation, rail, maritime, road transport, search and rescue,” said the ACSA Board when her appointment was announced. Nompumelelo holds an Honours degree in Urban and Regional Planning, as well as a Graduate degree in Town Planning from Coventry University in the United Kingdom. At Oxford University she obtained a certificate in Local
Government Management, where she was also a fellow at the South African Advanced Education Programme (SAAEP).
She has valuable experience in the transport sector, having served as the leader of the Government Transport Plan for the FIFA World Cup 2010, where she oversaw ACSA’s programme for airport development leading up to the sporting event. She also served as the Chairperson of the United Nations International Civil Aviation Organisation Group on Climate Change.
“Mpofu was instrumental in the development and approval by Cabinet of the South African Airlift Strategy which seeks to expand the country’s air transport services and to apply a holistic approach to global aviation opportunities to support South Africa’s assets,” says ACSA.
Past Board Memberships
• Municipal Demarcation Board
• National Housing Board
• Gauteng Development Tribunal
• National Housing Finance Corporation
• National Home Builders Registration Council
A World Class Organisation
The multiple award-winning ACSA is the largest airport operator in Africa. In 2017 it’s airport infrastructure ranked 10th out of 138 countries. With a few dozen awards over the years, and ACI Carbon accreditation for 5 of its airports since 2019, ACSA has maintained its standard of excellence during Nompumelelo’s tenure.
In 2020, Cape Town International Airport was named the best airport in Africa at the Skytrax World Airport Awards. Not to be outdone, King Shaka International Airport came out on top in three different categories: Best Airport Staff in Africa, Best Regional Airport in Africa, and Best Airport: 5 - 10 Million Passengers. For the 5th consecutive year in 2021, Cape Town International was named the leading airport in Africa at the World Travel Awards.
At this year’s Skytrax World Airport Awards, ACSA’s international airports were again in the spotlight, with Cape Town International being named the best airport in Africa for the 9th year in a row - OR Tambo finished third in the category with its hotel being named the best airport hotel. Three of the regional airports (Bloemfontein, Port Elizabeth and East London) made the top ten in their category.
“We are successfully navigating a period of substantial growth, surging passenger numbers and the introduction of new airlines,” said Nompumelelo in a statement. “We are grateful for the partnerships and support from all our stakeholders, without whom these accolades would not be possible.”
Under Nompumelelo’s stellar leadership, ACSA is sure to remain the leading airport operator in Africa.
