Thomas Gumede

Auditing: I do audit planning, execution and compile comprehensive audit reports and present audit outcomes to senior management to support the improvement of business processes, the mitigation of key risks, and the implementation of effective internal controls.

Risk Management: Developed and executed risk-based audit plans, advise executives on enterprise risks and controls. I am responsible for provide independent and objective assurance to Distribution senior management and the Audit & Risk Committee that business risks are being properly identified, assessed, managed, and monitored by management.

Project & Programme Management: Managed planning and the execution of audit projects to ensure delivery within agreed timelines, approved budget parameters, and established quality standards.

Performance Management & Reporting: I compile comprehensive audit reports and present audit outcomes to senior management to support the improvement of business processes, the mitigation of key risks, and the implementation of effective internal controls. I monitor and report on overdue and repeat audit findings to the relevant Risk and Assurance Committees within the Distribution Division, supporting the remediation of previously identified control and system weaknesses and contributing to improved operational effectiveness and efficiency.

Financial Analysis & Management Reporting: Managed departmental budgets, cost control, and resource optimisation across multiple management roles.

Establish optimisation strategies: During audit assessments, I identified inefficiencies within Distribution processes and recommended practical process, control, and system improvements to support the achievement of business objectives and enable effective, efficient, and sustainable operations.

Leadership, Change & Cross‑Functional Alignment: I act as a business partner and liaison to the Distribution Group Executive and Cluster General managers on all assurance and performance related matters. I lead and manage multi‑disciplinary teams, including middle managers, Chief advisors, and auditors. I have previously served as Acting Senior Manager: Technical Auditing, overseeing Transmission, Distribution, Risk and Sustainability portfolios, managing senior leaders and complex stakeholder.

People, Skills Development & Knowledge Management: Throughout my career, I have managed and developed technical specialists, auditors, managers, engineers, and operational teams. I have led skills development through mentoring, coaching, formal performance management, and empowering employees by knowledge sharing. I have also led structured documentation and reporting frameworks, ensuring consistency, transparency, and institutional knowledge retention.

• I did technical assessment in various engineering and business operations processes in the wires business e.g. Network operating, network maintenance, project management, IPP Connections, electrification projects, network strengthening etc. I conduct technical assessments compliance to NERSA/Grid code and technical Eskom standards. I do planning for the technical assessments on a 3-year rolling plan. I do report writing and presentation of the assessment report to senior management and Group Executive. I also act as an advisor and share recommendation in order to improve business operations. I supervise and manage my direct reports. I manage the sections resources and budget.

My responsibilities were auditing, risk management, and performance reporting. My responsibilities include audit planning, execution, and the compilation of comprehensive audit reports, with regular presentation of audit outcomes to senior management and governance structures. I develop and execute risk‑based audit plans and provide independent, objective assurance to Distribution senior management and the Audit & Risk Committee that business risks are appropriately identified, assessed, managed, and monitored. I further track and report on overdue and repeat audit findings, supporting the remediation of control and system weaknesses and contributing to improved operational effectiveness, efficiency, and compliance.

In addition to assurance responsibilities, I have managed audit, reliability, and maintenance projects, ensuring delivery within agreed timelines, budgets, and quality standards, including serving as a Field Services Area Manager. I have overseen departmental budgets, cost control, and resource optimisation, and identified operational inefficiencies with practical recommendations to improve processes, controls, and systems. I act as a strategic business partner to senior executives, lead multidisciplinary teams, and have served as Acting Senior Manager: Technical Auditing across Transmission, Distribution, Risk, and Sustainability portfolios. My experience includes developing people and capabilities through coaching, mentoring, and performance management, as well as establishing structured documentation and reporting frameworks that support transparency, consistency, and institutional knowledge retention.

• I was responsible for the primary plant equipment and my responsibilities were managing safe operations, planning, scheduling, outage management, and execution of maintenance in Substations, Distribution lines, HV&MV switchgear and electrification in the area. I managed external contractors that were doing major maintenance, reliability and refurbishment projects. I was also managing the departmental resources i.e. people, equipment, and financial budget. I managed and developed employees in order for them to meet the requirements and be competent in executing their work. I ensured that all the equipment i.e. tools, spares, vehicles are optimally utilized and are always available. I did budget planning for the department and ensured that departmental costs were within budget constraints. I was also accountable for the safe working of employees in accordance with the OSH Act.

• I provided technical guidance and managed the High Voltage (HV) and transformer Testing team to meet the requirements of all key customers. I did planning, scheduling and coordinating and organizing maintenance within HV and transformer testing teams. I did follow ups on customer requests and communicating regularly with customers and also providing quotations to customers for capital and other projects. Providing computer database to manage the optimum utilization of recording and generation of information for HV testing department. I exercised control over finance within the section and managed the sections outputs within financial constraints and compiling the sections budget. Acting as mentor and coach for newly appointed staff and trainees. Purchasing of correct production equipment and managing the fleet needs and operating costs of the department. Motivating, rewarding and recognizing staff. Providing written evaluation reports to prove manufacturers and customer specification. Revising test methods to utilize new technology for better productivity.

• I was commissioning, maintaining, repairing, and installing all Protection equipment in the Substations i.e. transformer, feeder, and busbar protection schemes. I also commissioned and tested under frequency loading schemes in accordance with the design drawings and standards. I did fault finding and attended to major customer complaints and fault Investigation. I did Project co-ordination in new, and refurbishment projects. I acted as mentor and coach to newly appointed staff and trainees. I took leadership and responsibility to all the work Executed in the field. I updated all protection scheme drawings where modifications were done in accordance with drawing standards.

• I did commissioning, maintenance, repairing, and installing all metering equipment in Substations and customer metering points. I did project co-coordinating in new and refurbishment metering projects. I commissioned metering installations for remote metering using modems, and downloading data using the data acquisition systems. I did data capturing for, customer complaints, investigations and for load profile studies. Manual Loading of recorders and Programmable meters. Doing fault finding and attending to Major Customer complaint and fault Investigation. I acted as a mentor and coach to newly appointed staff and trainees. I took leadership and responsibility to all the work Executed in the field. I updated all protection scheme drawings where modifications were done.