Zizamele Smodeni Mbambo

Zizamele Smodeni Mbambo joined the Department of Energy as deputy director-general for Nuclear Energy in June 2012. His role includes managing matters relating to nuclear safety and technology, nuclear non-proliferation and radiation security. Zizamele Smodeni Mbambo is also responsible for developing and reviewing policies as required by legislation, international agreements and governance of the nuclear sector in South Africa.

His academic qualifications include a BSc (Hons) in Environmental Geology, a post-graduate diploma in European Radiation Protection, and a MSc in Project Management (in progress). Mbambo’s professional career extends across key sectors of the South African economy, including the mining, nuclear and petrochemical industries. He started his career at Richards Bay Minerals, and after serving as a mine geologist at Africa Rainbow Minerals moved to the National Nuclear Regulator as a project officer and senior regulatory officer. He subsequently spent seven years at Pebble Bed Modular Reactor Proprietary Limited (PBMR). Mr Mbambo has served as a member for the Nuclear Industry Association of South Africa regulatory subcommittee, and as a PBMR member in the Legal and Regulatory Strategy Task Team of the Nuclear Energy Policy Implementation Committee.