Busisiwe Jacqueline “Totsie” Memela-Khambula

Busisiwe Jacqueline “Totsie” Memela-Khambula is the CEO of the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) . She has a  BA (Social Science), Masters in Public Administration.

Ms Memela is a senior executive, leader, value creator and turnaround strategist, who seeks to utilise her skills in enhancing shareholder value. She has up until May 2017 served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Women’s Development Business Trust (WDB), a leading organisation in pro-poor microfinance for women. She joined Academic Partnerships (AP South Africa; LLC) as head of strategy for Africa in mid-June 2017. She is an experienced Chief Executive Officer, Banker and Senior Business Strategist with 26 years’ operations and management experience in the banking, financial services, non-profit and postal services sectors.

Ms Memela was a fellow with the International Women’s Forum and she is currently a member of the South African chapter of the International Women’s Forum (IWFSA). She was nominated for the Duke and Graduate School of Business Fellowship programme focusing on Ethical Leadership for Emerging Leaders from both South Africa and USA. She serves as President of Girl Guides South Africa.

Ms Memela has been extensively involved in community and professional organisations and forums, including the International Partnerships for Microbiocides (IPM), a research-oriented non-governmental organisation on HIV and AIDS, the World University Services (Zimbabwe) as Vice Chairman, the Strauss Commission (presidential commission of inquiry into rural financial services) as a Commissioner and as a Committee Member for the Standing Committee for the Revision of the Bank Act. Ms Memela mentors young leaders both in her private capacity and in support of the South African chapter of the International Women’s Forum.

Ms Memela holds a BA in Social Science from the University of Swaziland and a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Zimbabwe. She has completed a range of executive programmes at Wits Business School, the Rand Afrikaans University (now the University of Johannesburg) and the Graduate School of Management and Urban Policy in New York, as well as Wits Harvard Business School.