Mercedes-Benz South Africa (MBSA) has announced the appointment of Dr Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka (photo) as an Independent Non-Executive Director, effective from 1 February 2024.
Dr Mlambo-Ngcuka's appointment follows the resignation of Ambassador Nozipho January-Bardill, effective as of 31 December 2023. Dr Mlambo-Ngcuka will steward the Social Ethics Committee.
Commenting on this appointment, Wilfried Porth, Chairperson of the MBSA Board, says Dr Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka brings a wealth of experience to the Board, having excelled across the private and public sectors, as well as within civil services in South Africa and abroad.
“Her depth of expertise will undoubtedly and aptly contribute to the corporate governance of MBSA as the company navigates its automotive transformation, ensuring its long-term success."
Dr Mlambo-Ngcuka boasts a career in both national and international politics. Her unwavering commitment to championing women's rights is evident through her affiliations with various organisations dedicated to education, social justice, women's empowerment and gender equality. Notably, she served as the Executive Director of UN Women and is the Founder of the Umlambo Foundation. She is a passionate gender activist and a dedicated campaigner for universal access to education.
From 2005 to 2008, Dr Mlambo-Ngcuka held the position of Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa. Prior to this, she served as Minister of Minerals and Energy from 1999 to 2005 and Deputy Minister in the Department of Trade and Industry from 1996 to 1999. Her contributions extend to her role as a Member of Parliament from 1994 to 1996, as part of South Africa's first democratic government.
In addition to her career in public service, Dr Mlambo-Ngcuka has achieved academic excellence, completing her PhD from the University of Warwick in the United Kingdom.
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You can't buy happiness but you can buy cars and that's kind of the same thing.
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Volvo has confirmed that its vehicles will now integrate Google’s Gemini artificial intelligence system. This development builds on the company’s existing collaboration with Google, which already provides Android Automotive OS and Google services in Volvo models.
New vehicle sales in 2026 continued their positive trend in April, with the 47 979 units sold marking the best April figure since 2013. This represents a remarkable performance by local automotive retailers despite a host of economic headwinds and a challenging trading environment.
April 2026 marked a turning point in South Africa’s economic landscape, as global energy markets were jolted by escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, according to naamsa | The Automotive Business Council.
