She joins the Naspers group at a "pivotal time for the group and for South Africa".
Naspers has announced the appointment of Phuthi Mahanyele-Dabengwa to its global management team as CEO of Naspers South Africa.
According to a statement by Africa’s largest technology company by market capitalisation,
Phuthi will be based in Johannesburg, where she will lead the group’s day-to-day business in South Africa and represent its interests in the country.
The CEO of Naspers South Africa role was created by the company for Phuthi.
She will be responsible for Naspers’ recently announced units, Naspers Foundry and Naspers Labs, which are designed to help stimulate the South African tech sector and tackle youth unemployment, respectively.
In June, Naspers’s R1.4 billion start-up fund, Naspers Foundry, invested R30 million in local technology start-up SweepSouth, which operates an online cleaning services platform.
Some of Naspers’ South Africa units that Phuthi will oversee and manage include Takealot, Superbalist, Mr D Food, OLX, Autotrader SA, Property24, and Media24.
Phuthi joins Naspers from her executive chairperson role at Sigma Capital.
About her appointment, she said:
“I am thrilled to be joining Naspers at such a pivotal time for the group and for South Africa and look forward to adding value to the group in realising its strategy in South Africa.”
Naspers group CEO Bob Dijk, who she will be reporting to, said:
“Phuthi is a seasoned leader with a strong track record of achievement throughout her career. Her significant investor and board experience across varied sectors, makes Phuthi the perfect match for this important role at Naspers.”
