Clean governance a priority, says new DG
"My key responsibility is to revitalise Limpopo's potential as one of the best performing provinces in this country."
POLOKWANE – As the new Director General (DG) of Limpopo, Nape Nchabeleng takes time off form his busy schedule by reading, especially by his favourite author, Ben Okri as well as political-economic, management and leadership books. He is also an avid jazz and gospel fan.
Describing himself as “open-minded” and “committed” to what he supposed to do, it is clear that Nchabeleng has a clear vision for where he wants the province to be.
Having held the position as Acting DG since October 2015, Nchabeleng was appointed in January and began his new role on 1 February.
He serves as the Accounting Officer of the Office of the Premier. In doing so, he is responsible for strategic planning and the overall financial management of the office of the premier.
“If for whatever reason, there is a failure in reaching quarterly and annual targets, I am the one who takes responsibility,” he says.
He also serves as a Secretary for the Provincial Executive Council and he is responsible for provincial administration (making sure all departmental HOD’s and MEC’s are able to perform their responsibilities as delegated by the Office of the Premier).
Nchabeleng holds a BA degree from the University of the Witwatersrand, having majored in political studies and international relations and he also holds an honours degree in politics and a master of science degree in development planning.
Having studied development planning, Nchabeleng uses that as a way of structuring his professional life and that is how he has landed up in various leadership roles before.
“My primary theoretical focus is ‘how best to plan things’,” he says.
During his competency assessment before his appointment as DG, it found that Nchabeleng is excellent at planning, strategy and leadership.
“My leadership style is to empower people. I give them space to do what they are expected to do. On areas in which they would need support, I have a collaborative approach,” he explains.
Since starting off as acting DG, Nchabeleng and the three deputy DG’s hold a meeting every Monday morning to track their progress and he says this has in turn, built a team environment. “This style of management highly empowers your colleagues and allows them to feel part of the decision making progress other than a top-down management style where one sits and tells others what to do,” he says.
The one thing he says he will do, now that he is no longer acting DG is to apply a principle of continuity and change.
“In areas where we think we are doing well, as an institution, we have to sustain them and where we see areas that need improvement, we need to develop a proper chain management strategy to make sure things are done in a strategic manner.”
Nchabeleng says the one challenge the province has faced is that it hadn’t invested in internal communications where top leadership and management don’t give feedback to staff on performance. He says he would like to improve on that and introduce a systemic programme that involves frequent interaction with staff.
Nchabeleng, being a keen reader, is passionate on issues of good governance and moving forward, he would like to focus on consolidating issues of governance which in turn will have their own spin offs.
“Unless you build a solid team, you will not be able to deliver on your mandate,” he explained.
Speaking on the province’s potential, Nchabeleng says he sees Limpopo as a sleeping Lion. “When a lion is asleep, it does not mean that its capacity disappears,” he says.
He believes that in order for the province to reclaim its glory, there are only two things needed: strategic leadership and focus.
“My key responsibility is to revitalise Limpopo’s potential as one of the best performing provinces in this country,” he concluded.
