Former Deputy Finance Minister Mcebisi Jonas and consulting and investment holding company Barbican Advisory Group executive director Bajabulile Tshabalala will join the board of telecommunications heavyweight MTN as nonexecutive directors, effective June 1.

Tshabalala and Jonas bring extensive board and senior management experience to their new roles, having served on numerous boards in the private and public sectors over many years.

“I wish to extend a warm welcome to Swazi and Mcebisi. We are all excited to have them on board. As we continue to steer our business into a new trajectory of execution excellence, I believe their arrival will further enrich the diversity and experience of the board,” says MTN chairperson Phuthuma Nhleko.

58-year-old Jonas, who holds a BA in History and Sociology from Vista University and a Higher Diploma in Education from Rhodes University, served as Deputy Finance Minister from 2014 to 2017.

He also served at various times as the member of the executive council responsible for finance, economic development, environmental affairs and tourism in the Eastern Cape, and has held the positions of Eastern Cape Development Corporation CEO, Centre for Investment and Marketing CEO and Public Investment Corporation chairperson and nonexecutive director.

Further, Jonas is one of the four independent Presidential Investment Envoys appointed by President Cyril Ramaphosa to attract investors to South Africa.

Meanwhile, Tshabalala (52) is currently a nonexecutive director at Tiger Brands and South African Airways, and previously served as Standard Bank and Council for Scientific and Industrial Research nonexecutive director.

She holds an MBA from the Babcock School of Management, Wake Forest University, in the US, participated in the Oxford Fintech Programme, and has over 20 years of professional experience in finance, risk management, treasury and general management.