Khwezi Kunene
The academic qualifications and achievements of Khwezi Kunene are enlisted below;
– Candidate MBA
Henley Business School, Enrolled 2023
– Post Graduate Diploma- Leadership Development
Stellenbosch Business School, 2013
– Corporate Project Management
The School of Project Management, 2008
– Innovation Management Development Program
The Davinci Institute, 2008
– BSc Property Development
University of KwaZulu-Natal
Khwezi is a motivated, resourceful, and a high-performance professional with extensive experience in both the public and private sector. Key to her success is the ability to effectively connect with and engage stakeholders, prioritise, and manage multiple projects in both fast paced and high-pressure environments, along with being able to shrewdly navigate ever-changing business dynamics. Khwezi values communication as one of her strong leadership attributes. This enables her to interact with ease with people at different levels in organisations. Her good communication abilities have also played a significant role in making her effective in community-related projects that she is continuously involved in.
Her training in science as a BSc graduate has equipped her with the ability to look at things analytically. This is critical in solving complex issues be they scientific or otherwise. Coupled with this is her endowment with soft skills that come very handy and useful in leadership and people management. As Nelson Mandela once said , “A good heart and a good mind are always a formidable combination. Khwezi Is a dynamic young leader having risen up the ranks to lead a Board at the age of 36 years. Becoming the youngest Chairperson of a Board in any DSAC ( Department of Sports Arts & Culture) Entity. Her dynamic youthful character is well displayed during Board meetings as she seeks to solve complex issues with subtle humour in an attempt to diffuse very tense situations.
Her religious upbringing and involvement in the church have helped build an ethical leader in Khwezi. Ethical leadership brings stability to organisations , at the same time creating a sense of belonging to employees. All the organisations she has been involved with have infused good morals and ethics, something that must be part of every company strategy for sustainable growth and development. Her ability to listen and understand the other person’s point of view has proven to be a useful attribute that has made her a pleasure to work with, even if she does not necessarily agree with the people she is dealing with sometimes. This is in line with what Steven Covey says in his book, ‘The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People”. One of the habits is , ‘Seek to understand first, then to be understood’.
Khwezi has displayed excellence in her career and especially her Board career. She is constantly being asked to speak at events where her knowledge and unique skill set is of value and sort after. Most recently the Minister of Sports Arts & Culture appointed her to represent South Africa as a Reference group member for evaluating and planning Africa Day celebrations. She sits on a panel with esteemed professionals representing their countries in Africa. The reference group works to achieve amongst others objectives, to fulfil the mandate of the AU of a united Africa through sports, arts and culture. This is one example of many where Khwezi has shown leadership and her insights being sought out and recognised by many.
In her spare time, she trades her heels for a set of comfortable shoes as she enjoys playing golf, exploring the outdoors, and hiking. She loves being a Mom to her 6 year old Son and who has helped her to nurture and develop her parental skills, an important life skill that makes you understand life better. Children teach you patience, understanding, love, resilience , empathy etc – all necessary traits to navigate the fascinating journey of life.
Khwezi Kunene has founded Astraia Property Group and serves as a Managing Director of the company that operates predominantly in the built environment industry and other related sectors. She has a rich history previously employed by Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd in various divisions, with a vast experience in Infrastructure Development Projects, Stakeholder Management, Facilities Management and Business Improvement projects using Advanced Analytics. She has extensive knowledge and experience in establishing, managing, and delivering projects involving external contractors and suppliers and aligned stakeholders.
Khwezi started her career in 2006 working for LHK & Associates as a Quantity Surveyor then proceeded to work at Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd on the Majuba Rail Project -Jan 2007.
In 2009 she was seconded to Parsons Brinckerhoff in the United Kingdom (UK) London head office. She was involved in developing Project Controls for a Business Management Model (Business Management System) and reported directly to the Chief Director- Operations UK/Africa. This system outlined how projects within the organisation were to be managed and executed in line with the company policies and procedures, synchronising all operations in the UK, Africa, UAE, USA and Australia.
Upon her return to South Africa in 2010, she joined Eskom Group Capital Division- Mpumalanga Projects as a Quantity Surveyor responsible for various contracts and working with international companies like Siemens, Alstom, General Electric, etc, on the Majuba Rail Project, Duvha Recovery project, Matla Refurbishment project, the Kriel Refurbishment project, and the Thuthuka Recovery project.
In 2011 she joined Eskom Distribution Division as a Contracts Management Manager managing contracts and CAPEX projects for the Department of Energy’s Electrification program for the KZN Operating Unit with an average annual budget of R1.2 Billion. She has gained extensive experience in establishing and applying NEC (New Engineering Contract) contracts. In 2013 she acted as Industry Support Manager (Stakeholder Manager) whereby she was liaising with external stakeholders, especially those in the KZN Provincial Government and Municipalities, upon Eskom’s extensive involvement and responsibility in service delivery.
She also participated in the establishment and co-ordinating of the ERE Committee (Eskom Real Estate), facilitating reports and integrating the ERE department with the OU’s operational needs.
Khwezi’s experience is supported by various awards and certificates of recognition which include the Eskom Managers Award for Best Women Achiever in 2012 after designing and implementing a contracts management framework for panel contracts in the Electrification program. This framework ensured the achievement of transformation targets thus accelerating the achievement of the 2020 Electrification Universal Access target. She also received an Eskom Managers Award for Best Recruit in 2012 for her ability to lead and participate in the Business Development Acceleration Program for the KZN Operating Unit.
Her career expanded into the area of Business Improvement Projects using Data Analytics whereby initiated projects, sort to improve operational efficiencies within the KZN operating unit. Using design thinking models, as a team they established projects with a focus on using advanced analytics to ensure that predictive data is readily available for robust decision making.
Various leadership roles availed opportunities for her to gain extensive experience in the Corporate Governance space within Eskom KZN, serving on various governance committees which include:
• Provincial Investment Committee (R0- R20million)
• Procurement Tender Committee (R0- R100million)
• Task Order Allocation Committee (R0- R700million)
• Project Management Training Committee
• Eskom Real Estate (ERE) Facilities Management Committee
Khwezi’s growth received recognition outside of her formal employ where she started her career as a Non-Executive Director/ Board member in various organisations.
• South African Representative- Reference Group Member_ National Celebration Africa Day
National Department of Sports Arts and Culture
Mar 2023- Current
• Chairperson of The KwaZulu Natal Museum
National Department of Sports Arts and Culture
Sept 2021 -Current
– Infrastructure & Facilities Committee
– Finance & Procurement Committee
– Institutional Advancement & Marketing Committee
• Chairperson of Risk Committee
Nkandla Municipality
Sept 2023- Current
• Chairperson of The Playhouse Company
National Department of Sports Arts and Culture
Dec 2020 – Current
– Arts & Fundraising committee
• Deputy Chairperson of The Playhouse Company
National Department of Sports Arts and Culture
Dec 2017-Nov 2020
– HR Committee
– Finance & Procurement Committee
• Council/Board Member of The Playhouse Company
National Department of Sports Arts and Culture
Dec 2014-Nov 2017
– Finance & Procurement Committee
– HR Committee
• Growth Catalyst Fund
HR Committee Member
Feb 2020 – Oct 2022
• New Green Economy (NGE 2030)
Advisory Committee-Namibia
Feb 2020 – Oct 2022
Khwezi also studied Systematic Theology and graduated in 2005 from Durban Christian Centre Bible School. She has served in various leadership roles in the ministry which include Connect group leader and various religious activities.
While studying for her undergraduate degree, Khwezi was nominated and served in the ACTS which is known as the National Movement of Catholic Students in South Africa, serving all University students studying in UKZN_ Howard College. She was ACTS BEC Member (Branch Executive Committee) in 2003, and ACTS PEC Member (Provincial Executive Member) in 2004.
Khwezi has always seen herself as a member of her community and works closely with children from the Sitshala Imbewu yakusasa’ commonly known in Claremont as Izingane zeMbewu. In 2018/2019 Khwezi would volunteer her time working with this group of youth, alongside other professionals in developing leadership skills and giving career guidance exposure through a set annual program. Khwezi would also dedicate time to also interact with the Claremont Women’s organisation which hosts dialogues with women in the community to discuss issues that affect women.
In 2021, Khwezi was approached to join a group of Business Leaders from KZN as a Business Partner at Partners for Possibilities commonly known as Pfp. Pfp is a non-profit organisation that brings together business partners and links them with impoverished schools in an area. They provide skills training for both the School Principal and the Business partner, allowing them to develop a relationship that will in turn possibly see the Business partner assisting the School in their various projects and solving some of their challenges.
Khwezi’s appointment started during the time of COVID restrictions which meant that most meetings were held virtually and training was also done online. Khwezi was assigned to assist Inhlangeni Primary School in Pietermaritzburg, whereby she sought to understand the problems experienced by the school which was mainly the problem of lack of water in the school. This resulted in many challenges which included health and safety issues for the learners. Khwezi sought the assistance of AECI to kindly sponsor the school with a borehole and water treatment plant. AECI was excited to be part of the project and they designed, installed and commissioned the Borehole and water treatment plant on the school premises. Today the children have clean drinking water that they can also use to flush toilets and water their plants. This borehole also assists the community that lives near the school to have access to drinking water.
Post the 2021 July looting unrest in KZN, Khwezi was invited as a Social Cohesion Advocate to address and have social cohesion dialogues in the community of Phoenix Durban. This was a program hosted by the Department of Sports Arts and Culture and her role was to speak about the role of the Arts in bringing communities together and how the community of Phoenix could use this platform to bring people of all races together. This was a very fruitful engagement which attracted civil society groups and local business owners seeking opportunities to partner and restore the fragmented and fragile fabric of the society in Phoenix and surrounding areas..