Malebo Mabitje Thompson

Ms Malebo MS Mabitje-Thompson is a Deputy Director-General in the Department of Trade and Industry of South Africa since April 20l4. This role entails developing and administering an attractive and competitive incentive programme to promote productive investment in South Africa. She oversees funding programmes for industrial infrastructure development, firm level competitiveness enhancement, export promotion, innovation and industrial skills development. She also manages partnerships with investors, industry associations, organised labour, other government departments, academic institutions, commercial banks and development finance institutions. She leads a team of over 100 people.

Prior to this role she was Chief Operations Officer in the Industrial Development Division which is responsible for developing the annual industrial policy action plan of government. In this role she chaired the Industrial Policy Support Fund which supports evidence based policy making. This fund secures technical assistance to draw upon the best evidence available to develop appropriate action plans for sector development. She led South Africa’s input into the development of the Southern African Development Community regional industrialisation strategy and Southern African Customs Union industrial development work programme.

Before joining the department of Trade & Industry she worked in the manufacturing sector for 8 years in various roles including capital project finance planning, operations expenditure controlling and profit improvement planning. She holds a Masters Degree in Globalisation and Economic Development from the University of Antwerp, Belgium (Cum Laude), Bachelor of Commerce Honours Degree in Economics from the Nelson Mandela University in Port Elizabeth, South Africa and Bachelor of Commerce degree in Business Management and Economics from the University of Port Elizabeth, South Africa.