Mr Jas Govender is the Chairperson of the Mpumalanga Green Cluster Agency (MGCA) Board. He is a Chartered Accountant, CA(SA), and holds a Master’s degree in Sustainability Management, obtained cum laude. He brings more than 25 years of senior leadership experience spanning finance, commercial dealmaking, and sustainability across the energy and resources sectors in South Africa and across the African continent.
Mr Govender currently serves as Head of Shared Value and Socio-Economic Industrial Projects at Sasol, where he leads strategic initiatives that integrate sustainability into business strategy, advancing the company’s just transition agenda while supporting long-term economic resilience, industrial development, and inclusive growth.
He brings to the MGCA Board strong fiduciary oversight, ethical leadership, and deep sector insight that support the Agency’s mandate to accelerate green industrialisation, catalyse investment, and advance a just and inclusive transition for the province.
Ms Teresa Le Roux
DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON
dEPUTY CHAIRPERSON: MS TERESA LE ROUX
Ms Teresa Le Roux is the Deputy Chairperson of the Mpumalanga Green Cluster Agency (MGCA) Board. She is an admitted Advocate of the High Court of South Africa with specialist qualifications in tax and international tax, both obtained cum laude, and certification in Sustainable Finance through the University of Cambridge.
Teresa was the Chief Executive Officer of Moumo Integrated Development (Pty) Ltd from 213-2019 and was responsible for implementing an Integrated Development Plan for the Royal Bafokeng Nation, developing optimal infrastructure such as Housing, Water, Green Energy and Agricultural projects for sustainable post mining viability.
She has extensive experience in investment banking, development finance, agriculture, enterprise development and economic development. Her career includes senior roles across commercial banking, structured finance, impact investment and community-centred development, with a strong track record in structuring funding solutions, raising capital and driving enterprise and supplier development. To the MGCA Board, Ms Le Roux brings valuable expertise in sustainable investment, stakeholder engagement, ESG-linked strategy, inclusive economic development, and financing approaches that can help unlock growth opportunities in Mpumalanga’s green economy.
Ms Mmankolo Rachel Babie
Board Member
Board member: ms mmankolo rachel babie
Ms Mmankoko Rachel Babie is an accomplished supply chain and operations executive with extensive experience across the construction and mining equipment, oil and gas, automotive and manufacturing sectors. She currently serves as Supply Chain, Procurement and Logistics Director at JA Engineering Works and holds a Master of Business Leadership in Supply Chain Management.
Her professional background includes senior roles at Barloworld Equipment, Shell South Africa, Joy Global Africa and BMW South Africa. She brings strong expertise in procurement, logistics, strategic planning, operational excellence, inventory management and business performance improvement. To the MGCA Board, Ms Babie brings practical insight into supply chain efficiency, operational strategy, risk management and industrial systems that can strengthen oversight of implementation, partnerships and sustainable growth initiatives.
Dr Melusi Thwala
Board Member
Board member: Dr melusi thwala
Dr Melusi Thwala is a water resources and environmental science specialist with around 20 years of combined experience across government, research, academia and science advisory institutions. He holds a PhD in Zoology with a specialisation in aquatic ecotoxicology, a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration, and is registered with the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions.
He currently serves as Manager: Science Advisory and Strategic Partnerships at the Academy of Science of South Africa. His experience includes leadership roles at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, and work with the Department of Water and Sanitation, with expertise spanning water quality, ecological risk assessment, aquatic health, science advisory, stakeholder engagement and research leadership.
To the MGCA Board, Dr Thwala brings scientific depth, policy insight and strategic management experience, particularly in relation to water stewardship, environmental risk and evidence-based decision-making.
Dr Pheladi J. Mohlala
Board Member
Board member: dr pheladi j. mohlala
Dr. Pheladi J. Mohlala is a climate change and sustainability leader with more than 20 years of multidisciplinary experience spanning climate policy, corporate resilience, sustainability integration, scientific research and stakeholder engagement. She currently leads climate change adaptation and policy work at Sasol and is a registered professional natural scientist.
She holds a PhD in Chemistry, an MBA, and additional leadership and sustainability qualifications. Her expertise includes climate risk and vulnerability assessment, adaptation strategy, regulatory analysis, ESG integration, executive advisory support, and talent development. To the MGCA Board, Dr Mohlala brings valuable expertise in climate governance, resilience planning, sustainability strategy, and regulatory insight, helping to strengthen MGCA’s response to climate-related opportunities and risks.
Mr Thapelo Tladi
Board Member
Board member: Mr thapelo tladi
Mr Thapelo Tladi is a geoscientist energy and sustainability professional with more than 10 years of experience across the private, public, nonprofit, and international development sectors. His work has focused on sustainable natural resource management, just energy transitions, climate change mitigation and the intersection of digital technologies with energy and industrial systems.
He currently serves as Head of Programmes at the South Africa Centre for Industry and Technology and also holds an honorary role as Non-Executive Director and Special Envoy to South Africa for the Solar Futures Alliance. His previous experience includes leadership roles at the World Economic Forum and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, as well as consulting and mining sectors experience in South Africa and abroad. To the MGCA Board, Mr Tladi brings strong expertise in energy systems, international stakeholder engagement, programme leadership and low-carbon transition strategy, with useful insight into innovation, policy and investment trends shaping the future green economy.
