The Public Affairs Research Institute (PARI) is pleased to announce the appointment of three new non-executive members to its Board of Directors: Ms Zamandlovu (Zama) Ndlovu, Dr Siphosami Malunga and Mr Nico Esterhuizen. Their appointments significantly strengthen the Board’s collective expertise in governance, strategic communications, finance and organisational development.
Zamandlovu (Zama) Ndlovu brings extensive experience in strategic communications, public engagement and board governance. She is currently Group Head of Corporate Communications and Brand Marketing at Onafriq (formerly MFS Africa), Africa’s largest digital payments hub operating across more than 40 markets. Previously, she served as Communications Manager at the South African Reserve Bank and as Director of Public Engagement and Communications at the Presidency’s National Planning Commission, where she played a key role in developing and communicating South Africa’s National Development Plan. Zama has significant board experience, having served as Non-Executive Chairperson of the National Development Agency and as a board member of the Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection. She holds an MPhil in Inclusive Innovation from the University of Cape Town and brings deep expertise in brand strategy, public policy and institutional governance.
Siphosami Malunga is a senior governance and democracy specialist with over 25 years of experience across Africa and globally. He most recently served as Director of Programmes for Open Society Africa and previously as Executive Director of the Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa, where he led major organisational reforms and managed multi-million-dollar programmes advancing democracy, human rights and good governance. His career includes senior roles at the United Nations Development Programme in Africa, Afghanistan and Norway, as well as earlier work as an international criminal lawyer in East Timor. Siphosami holds a PhD in International Law from the University of the Witwatersrand and is currently a Global Justice Fellow at Yale University. He brings to PARI deep expertise in democratic governance, institutional reform, organisational development and fundraising.
Nico Esterhuizen is a chartered accountant and seasoned executive with over 20 years of leadership experience in finance, governance, risk management and compliance across the public, private and non-profit sectors. He currently serves as Global Director of Compliance: Finance and Internal Control at ICAP at Columbia University and previously held senior roles including Global Audit Director at World Vision and Global Chief Financial Officer at ForAfrika. Nico has also worked extensively in South Africa’s financial sector, including at the South African Insurance Association, Discovery and the Auditor-General. He serves on several audit and risk committees, including at the Financial Sector Conduct Authority and the Pension Funds Adjudicator. Nico holds multiple professional qualifications, including CA(SA), FCCA and CIA, and brings strong financial oversight and governance expertise to the PARI Board.
PARI is delighted to welcome Zama Ndlovu, Siphosami Malunga and Nico Esterhuizen to its Board of Directors. They join current non-executive Directors – Mr Kuben Naidoo, Adv Lerato Phasha, Ms Zeenat Sujee – and Executive Director, Dr Sithembile Mbete. Their combined experience and leadership will play an important role in strengthening PARI’s governance and supporting its mission to advance evidence-based public policy and capable democratic institutions in South Africa.
