‘Enthusiastic’ new board elected at NMBT AGM

A DIVERSE new Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism (NMBT) board was elected yesterday at the annual general meeting of the organisation amid excitement from members and stakeholders.

“I think this new collection of minds is going to add value to Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism and sound leadership as we look at marketing and promoting the destination and strengthening the tourism industry in the city,” said Mandlakazi Skefile, NMBT chief executive.

The new board is Port Elizabeth Airport manager Azad Cassim; Bradley Levack, director of Djembe Heritage Initiatives; Mike Callaghan, secretary of the Nelson Mandela Bay tourist guide association; former Eastern Cape Tourism Board CEO Zola Tshefu, now owner of Lelibo Investment; Hugh Bartis, head of the Department of Tourism at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University; Zoe Waters, finance and human resources manager at the Port Elizabeth Regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PERCCI); Boardwalk general manager Clifford Ngakane; Nomkhita Mona, chief executive of Uitenhage Despatch Development Initiative and former Eastern Cape Tourism Board CEO; and manager of business growth at Canon Eastern Cape and former Percci CEO, Odwa Mtati.

“The calibre of talent within this board is promising. We are an enthusiastic group that wants to see the city becoming a top-class tourism destination,” added Skefile, who also sits on the board. By the first week of December the new board would have elected a chairperson.

Other matters discussed at the AGM related to reports, amendments to the constitution and the appointment of auditors for the 2011-2012 period.