MZINGISI GRATITUDE NKUNGWANA
Stakeholder Relations | Corporate Social Investment | Intergovernmental Relations | Municipal & Community Services
BEAUFORT WEST,WC
Summary
Dynamic senior municipal executive with over 15 years of transformative leadership experience, including roles as Acting City Manager, Municipal Manager, and Director of Community & Social Services within metropolitan and district municipalities. Expertise in stakeholder management, corporate social investment (CSI), intergovernmental relations (IGR), and community development, with a strong focus on public safety, strategic planning, governance, and institutional performance. Proven track record in crafting and executing Integrated Development Plans (IDPs), turnaround strategies, and multi-sector partnerships that drive community mobilization and enhance public safety operations. Well-equipped for impactful roles across corporate, parastatal, NGO, development sectors, and international arenas, emphasizing stakeholder relations, ESG initiatives, public affairs, social performance, and governance strategies.
Talented Manager with expert team leadership, planning, and organizational skills built during successful career. Smoothly equip employees to independently handle daily functions and meet customer needs. Diligent trainer and mentor with exceptional management abilities and results-driven approach.
Overview
26
26
years of professional experience
4
4
Languages
3
3
Certificates
Work History
Municipal Manager
Central Karoo District Municipality
07.2023 - 08.2024
- Provided strategic, administrative and governance leadership to the District Municipality.
- Oversaw municipal turnaround, operational stability, compliance, and service delivery alignment.
- Directed district-wide community engagement programmes and public participation platforms.
- Led intergovernmental coordination with Provincial and National departments, sister municipalities, SALGA, and public entities.
- Ensured compliance with MFMA, MSA, SPLUMA, PFMA-linked frameworks, and statutory reporting.
- Managed executive managers, senior directors and multidisciplinary teams.
- Directed district public communication, stakeholder liaison, and crisis response.
- Strengthened institutional performance, reporting, budgeting, and administrative systems.
- Reduced operational costs through comprehensive process improvement initiatives and resource management.
- Developed comprehensive risk management plan, minimizing potential disruptions to business operations.
- Implemented customer feedback mechanisms to gather insights, using this information to guide strategic planning and decision-making.
- Facilitated team brainstorming sessions that led to innovative solutions for long-standing operational challenges.
- Managed and motivated employees to be productive and engaged in work.
- Accomplished multiple tasks within established timeframes.
- Maximized performance by monitoring daily activities and mentoring team members.
- Enhanced customer satisfaction by resolving disputes promptly, maintaining open lines of communication, and ensuring high-quality service delivery.
Acting City Manager
Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality
02.2022 - 05.2022
- Entrusted with leading one of South Africa's largest metros during a period of administrative strain.
- Provided executive oversight of all Municipal clusters and 5000+ staff.
- Managed Metro-wide stakeholder relations, governance compliance, and high-level political-administrative interface.
- Directed city-wide service delivery interventions, intergovernmental coordination, and institutional performance.
- Guided implementation of key stability and turnaround measures.
Head: Social Services
Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality
04.2017 - 01.2022
- Led Social Services portfolio (Parks, Cemeteries, Halls, Community Programmes, Libraries, etc.).
- Managed large operational teams, budgets (expenditure & revenue), and organizational performance.
- Directed community development projects, poverty-alleviation programmes, social cluster coordination and NGO partnerships.
- Oversaw planning for public amenities, community halls, social infrastructure and development programmes.
- Strengthened stakeholder relations across civil society, business, provincial departments and community structures.
- Self-motivated, with a strong sense of personal responsibility.
- Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
- Proven ability to learn quickly and adapt to new situations.
- Skilled at working independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
- Worked well in a team setting, providing support and guidance.
- Passionate about learning and committed to continual improvement.
- Managed time efficiently in order to complete all tasks within deadlines.
- Assisted with day-to-day operations, working efficiently and productively with all team members.
- Worked effectively in fast-paced environments.
- Worked flexible hours across night, weekend, and holiday shifts.
- Demonstrated respect, friendliness and willingness to help wherever needed.
- Strengthened communication skills through regular interactions with others.
- Paid attention to detail while completing assignments.
- Adaptable and proficient in learning new concepts quickly and efficiently.
- Organized and detail-oriented with a strong work ethic.
- Resolved problems, improved operations and provided exceptional service.
- Participated in team projects, demonstrating an ability to work collaboratively and effectively.
- Used strong analytical and problem-solving skills to develop effective solutions for challenging situations.
- Proved successful working within tight deadlines and a fast-paced environment.
- Learned and adapted quickly to new technology and software applications.
Acting General Manager: Public Safety
Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality
12.2016 - 04.2017
- Provided executive leadership of Traffic, Law Enforcement, Public Safety and Bylaw Enforcement with approximately 300 staff.
- Managed operational deployments, public safety planning, traffic operations, disaster response integration.
- Coordinated with SAPS, RTMC, EMS and Provincial Safety Cluster.
- Ensured optimal use of resources, fleet, personnel and technology.
Acting GM: Strategic Support & Social Services
Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality
02.2016 - 11.2016
- Coordinated policy analysis, strategic institutional planning and IGR.
- Consolidated governance reporting, M&E and interdepartmental planning.
- Strengthened organisational performance systems and strategic planning processes.
Acting GM: IDP & Organisational Performance
Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality
01.2013 - 01.2014
- Led the design, coordination and implementation of the IDP and the Organizational Performance Management System.
- Managed public participation, ward-level planning, and community-based planning initiatives.
- Aligned institutional performance to national policy frameworks (MTSF, NDP).
Manager: Mangaung Compact / IDP & Organisational Performance
Mangaung Metro Municipality
04.2011 - 01.2013
- Developed IDP, SDBIP, housing chapters, LED strategies and social cluster programmes.
- Coordinated intergovernmental planning across state departments, business and civil society.
- Led rural development strategy development, War on Poverty programmes, and ward plans.
- Managed a team of planners and interns; aligned planning with national/provincial frameworks.
- Accomplished multiple tasks within established timeframes.
- Managed and motivated employees to be productive and engaged in work.
- Maximized performance by monitoring daily activities and mentoring team members.
- Enhanced customer satisfaction by resolving disputes promptly, maintaining open lines of communication, and ensuring high-quality service delivery.
- Resolved staff member conflicts, actively listening to concerns and finding appropriate middle ground.
- Controlled costs to keep business operating within budget and increase profits.
- Improved marketing to attract new customers and promote business.
- Cross-trained existing employees to maximize team agility and performance.
- Maintained professional, organized, and safe environment for employees and patrons.
- Developed and maintained relationships with customers and suppliers through account development.
- Managed budgets effectively, ensuring optimal financial performance while investing in necessary resources for business growth.
- Built high-performing teams through effective recruitment, onboarding, and talent development initiatives.
- Mentored junior team members for career advancement, fostering a pipeline of future leaders within the organization.
- Improved safety procedures to create safe working conditions for workers.
- Developed a strong company culture focused on employee engagement, collaboration, and continuous learning opportunities.
- Streamlined workflows by identifying bottlenecks in existing systems and implementing appropriate solutions.
- Established performance goals for employees and provided feedback on methods for reaching those milestones.
- Reduced waste and pursued revenue development strategies to keep department aligned with sales and profit targets.
- Launched quality assurance practices for each phase of development
- Streamlined and monitored quality programs to alleviate overdue compliance activities.
- Cultivated positive rapport with fellow employees to boost company morale and promote employee retention.
- Leveraged data and analytics to make informed decisions and drive business improvements.
- Identified and communicated customer needs to supply chain capacity and quality teams.
- Trained personnel in equipment maintenance and enforced participation in exercises focused on developing key skills.
- Set aggressive targets for employees to drive company success and strengthen motivation.
- Improved staffing during busy periods by creating employee schedules and monitoring call-outs.
- Planned, created, tested and deployed system life cycle methodology to produce high quality systems to meet and exceed customer expectations.
- Managed senior-level personnel working in marketing and sales capacities.
- Controlled resources and assets for department activities to comply with industry standards and government regulations.
- Opened and closed location and monitored shift changes to uphold successful operations strategies and maximize business success.
- Achieved departmental goals by developing and executing strategic plans and performance metrics.
Programme & Alumni Manager
University of the Free State
01.2001 - 01.2005
- Stakeholder and alumni relations, communications, marketing and events management.
- External liaison across businesses, schools, government and alumni networks.
- Managed alumni structures nationally (10–15 committees).
- Designed and implemented communication strategies.
Student Assistant: Office of the Dean of Students
University of the Free State
01.1999 - 01.2001
- Assisted with student governance, discipline, late registration processes and complaint management.
Education
Certificate - Municipal Finance & SCM
University of The Witwatersrand
Bloemfontein, South Africa11-1999
Certificate - Municipal Finance & SCM
University of The Witwatersrand
Johannesburg, GautengIDP Learnership NQF 5 - undefined
McIntosh Xaba & Associates
Local Economic Development Certificate - undefined
University of Stellenbosch
LED Competitive Advantage Programme - undefined
InWEnt (Locati)
Project Management - It's My Project Manager
Sunday Times
Public Administration N4 - undefined
Cape College
Post Graduate Diploma - Governance & Political Transformation (Honours Equivalent)
University of the Free State
National Certificate - Official Statistics (NCOS)
Stats SA
Pretoria, South Africa10-2016
Skills
Stakeholder & Community Relations
Accomplishments
Developed and directed public participatory mechanism in the Western Cape and helped fine tune Community based planning to improve participation of communities in local government sector .
successful collaboration with private sector role players to develop functional security systems for the metropolitan municipality
hosting and organizing a successful cultural festivals for the municipality
Resolved burial challenges of the municipality through stakeholder engagements and collaborations with farm owners
assisted the university of the free state marketing division to reach out to the most remote areas of South Africa in the early 90's
Establish and Directed and set up Alumni and convocation structures country wide for the University of the Orange Free State
establish the broad based student transformation forum post democracy for the Free State University
Affiliations
- Board Member – Karoo National Park
- Board Member – Beaufort West Sports & Cultural Forum
- Board Member – Beaufort West Thusong Service Centre
- SASCO Provincial Education & Transformation Officer
- SAYC Provincial Executive Committee
- SANGOCO Western Cape Sectoral Council
- SAMWU Shop Steward – Mangaung Metro
References
- Nakana, Masoka, Former Deputy Executive Director, 0823603435, Mangaung
- Vincent, Madlela, former executive, 0824111058, BHP Billiton
- Selloane, Mogapi, Manager Strategic Support, 0837624996, Mangaung
soccer, rugby, swimming
i simply love watching the above mentioned sports and played rugby at primary, secondary and bit of university
Work Availability
monday
tuesday
wednesday
thursday
friday
saturday
sunday
morning
afternoon
evening
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Certification
CM - Certified Manager Certification
Timeline
Municipal Manager
Central Karoo District Municipality
07.2023 - 08.2024
Acting City Manager
Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality
02.2022 - 05.2022
Head: Social Services
Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality
04.2017 - 01.2022
Acting General Manager: Public Safety
Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality
12.2016 - 04.2017
Acting GM: Strategic Support & Social Services
Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality
02.2016 - 11.2016
Acting GM: IDP & Organisational Performance
Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality
01.2013 - 01.2014
Manager: Mangaung Compact / IDP & Organisational Performance
Mangaung Metro Municipality
04.2011 - 01.2013
Programme & Alumni Manager
University of the Free State
01.2001 - 01.2005
Student Assistant: Office of the Dean of Students
University of the Free State
01.1999 - 01.2001
IDP Learnership NQF 5 - undefined
McIntosh Xaba & Associates
Local Economic Development Certificate - undefined
University of Stellenbosch
LED Competitive Advantage Programme - undefined
InWEnt (Locati)
Project Management - It's My Project Manager
Sunday Times
Public Administration N4 - undefined
Cape College
Certificate - Municipal Finance & SCM
University of The Witwatersrand
Certificate - Municipal Finance & SCM
University of The Witwatersrand
Post Graduate Diploma - Governance & Political Transformation (Honours Equivalent)
University of the Free State
National Certificate - Official Statistics (NCOS)
Stats SA