Leadership change at WSG

Adjunct Professor Themba Maseko is now the interim head of the Wits School of Governance, following Professor Mzukisi Qobo's departure.

Qobo will be leaving Wits University to take up a new position in the public service. He started his position in May 2020, during the challenging Covid-19 period. His management of the transition to online learning allowed the School to continue providing quality education under difficult circumstances. Under Qobo’s leadership, the school charted a new strategy direction as Africa’s leading school of governance with emphasis on contributing to building state capacity. He also initiated new research initiatives, including the Tayarisha Centre for Digital Governance and the Just Transition Research Consortium.

Qobo strengthened the relationship with the alumni through Town Hall-style engagements, using the feedback to improve the delivery of academic programmes and executive courses.  He will remain a visiting professor at the School.

Maseko joined the School in January 2022 as Director of Executive Education, bringing with him a wealth of public sector and management and higher education experience. The former government communicator’s leadership has been invigorating, strategically driving a team of highly professional short course administrators and business development staff to offer relevant courses.

His ability to make different teams work together in the school has had a tremendous impact on the quality and delivery of short courses offered. Under his leadership, innovative courses have been introduced in the field of digital governance and civic tech. The school’s short courses graduations have become illustrious events, attracting vital keynote speakers including, the Auditor-General of South Africa, Tsakani Maluleke.

Maseko is also leading a project on the State Capture Report, which will comprise public events and a book.

More on Maseko:

Maseko holds a BA LLB (Wits University) and an MBA (De Montfort University).

His career in the public service includes roles as the former CEO of the Government Communication and Information Service and Government Spokesperson; Director General in the Department of Public Service and Administration; National Department of Public Works, and he was the first Superintendent-General in the Gauteng Department of Education and a member of Parliament in 1994.

His private sector experience includes short stints as Managing Director of the Damelin Education Group, independent management consulting, and Communications Director at the Business Leadership South Africa.

Professor Maseko left the public service after 17 years after speaking out against state capture. He has authored a book titled For my Country’. He is a Trustee of the Board of the Nelson Mandela Foundation and also serves on the boards of Corruption Watch, the Council for the Advancement of the South African Constitution and Chapter Zero.