Leader Profile

Africa Msimang

Chairperson of the board

  • Master of Public Administration (Graduate School of Governance, University of Western Cape).
  • Bachelor of Arts Political Science
  • (Honours)(University of Johannesburg)
  • Bachelor of Arts in Development Studies &
  • Political Science (University of Johannesburg).



Ms. A Msimang is a good governance expert who focuses on enhancing organisational effectiveness and ethical leadership. She possess extensive knowledge in corporate governance principles, sustainability, and compliance. She is also a turnaround strategist who specialises in revitalising struggling businesses. Afrika is decisive and courageous in implementing leadership decisions. She believes in transparency, accountability, and stakeholder engagement. She also has the grace and humility to appreciate her limits and acknowledge her mistakes.
Afrika has over 23 years of experience serving as executive director/manager in various organizations, 8 of which she served as a civil servant in local and provincial government and at parliamentary level. Afrika has been contributing significant global executive and boardroom experience to iX engineer’s leadership team since 2018. She has also supported the expansion of iX engineers, continentally and internationally .
Deeply concerned about rural development and land reform challenges, Afrika is a founder and chairman of Mendi Msimang Innovation Hub – an agriculture and food security focused company. Further to the above, Afrika has also served as Chairperson of Andalusite Resources Mine (from 2017 to 2019), National Museum (from 2015 to 2017) and PACOFS (from 2014 to 2017). She has also served as Chairman of the South African Air Force Spouses Forum since 2013, where she and her team established early childhood development centres on all the air force bases and set up skills development centres and a robotics academy. She has also served as a Trustee of Tsogo Sun Moves for Life, a chess based NGO, since 2009, where they have used chess to improve maths science and literacy in over 70 schools.
She was also the Policy & Political advisor to the Executive Mayor of the Municipality of Tshwane from 2007 to 2009 and Media Liaison at National Parliament from 1995 to 1996. Afrika has worked as a Project Co-Ordinator for SANGONeT in 1994, a journalist for The Argus in 1995, Media Liaison Officer at Robben Island and as Co-Director of the Parliament of the World Religions (from 1997 to 1999). She also served as the CEO for Mangaung Business Solutions from 2005 to 2007 and Stakeholder Manager for Anglo-American Coal South Africa from 2012 to 2014.
Overall, Afrika has significant exposure to various industries spanning from mining, defense, aviation, early childhood education, arts & culture, health, agriculture and NGOs. She is also experienced in working with state entities in distress, in leading and participating in turning them around. She has extensive experience as member and chairman of the board for various sub-committees including Audit and Risk, Governance, Human Resources, and Legal and Social Ethics. Afrika has enormous experience as a wellness coach and a yoga and meditation teacher