New ACSA Board Appointed to Oversee Significant R21 Billion Airport Expansion

Johannesburg – The Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) has unveiled its new board of directors, set to navigate the state-owned enterprise through a pivotal period of infrastructure expansion and operational recovery.

On Monday, 18 May 2026, ACSA announced the appointments of Irvin Phenyane (Chairperson), Xoliswa Daku, Keitumetse Mahlangu, Surendra Sooklal, Roy Mnisi, and Theunis Chamberlain as members of its board.

Furthermore, Kurt Parker and Ulandi Exner will join the board on 6 August 2026.

The addition of these board members comes at a critical juncture for ACSA as it accelerates its R21 billion airport enhancement initiative along with innovative strategies designed to boost connectivity, passenger experience, and operational resilience.

ACSA’s successful turnaround is demonstrated by its remarkable financial results for the year ending 31 March 2025, reporting a record net profit of R1.1 billion, which more than doubles the R472 million achieved in 2023/24.

This robust financial standing has resulted in the approval of R198 million in accrued preference share dividends, in addition to declaring R113 million in ordinary share dividends for 2024/25.

With these strategic new appointments, ACSA’s Board of Directors now comprises twelve members, combining experienced industry leaders with innovative thinkers to propel aviation excellence.

This diverse expertise will strengthen ACSA’s ability to enhance connectivity, improve passenger experiences, reinforce governance, and implement infrastructure projects while positioning the organization for sustainable growth.

New ACSA Board Members:

Irvin Phenyane (Chairperson)

With over 20 years of experience in the aviation sector, including leadership in greenfield airport initiatives and innovative aviation destination developments.

He has served as a Non-Executive Director at ACSA and TETA and was a part of the International Air Services Licensing Council for four years. Currently, he chairs the Drone Council SA.

This business consultant has provided advisory services to numerous clients in areas such as transformation, project management, strategy, and global business development.

Since 2008, he has supported the taxi industry during significant events such as the 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2013 CAF Football Tournament. His recent MPhil (Corporate Strategy) focused on emerging technologies.

He holds a BSc, two Postgraduate Diplomas (in Project Management and Management), and a Master of Management (MM) degree.

His strategic insight is expected to effectively steer ACSA’s board.

Xoliswa Daku

As the Founder and CEO of DAKU (PTY) Ltd, Xoliswa leads a private company that includes diverse subsidiaries in property, law, and energy, boasting over 29 years of legal expertise.

She has previously chaired SEDFA and the University of the Western Cape, holding an LLM and an EMBA, along with various international postgraduate business qualifications.

With 26 years of extensive board experience, Daku has expertise in governance, institutional frameworks, foreign direct investment, trade, and industry matters.

She has collaborated with multinational corporations worldwide, continuously seeking growth opportunities for the country and demonstrating her commitment to community development.

Keitumetse Mahlangu

An admitted attorney, Ms. Mahlangu is an experienced legal professional with over 20 years in legal practice, governance, investigations, and cross-border road transport regulation.

She has participated in various Boards and Audit Committees, including at the Cross-Border Road Transport Agency, the Gauteng Film Commission, the Department of Human Settlements, and the Gauteng Rental Housing Tribunal.

Her qualifications include a B. Proc, an LLB, the Management Advancement Programme (MAP), and a Post-Graduate Certificate in Fraud Examination and Legislative Drafting.

Additionally, she has undertaken numerous Law courses from various international legal institutions, and her expertise in transport, property, and public sector governance will be pivotal in advancing ACSA’s strategic objectives.

Surendra Sooklal

With over 35 years in risk management, external and internal auditing, regulatory oversight, and governance, Sooklal has previously worked as a Group Executive at MTN, where he oversaw risk management, internal audit, group insurance, business continuity, crisis management, and cybersecurity.

A former member of the Disciplinary Committee at the Independent Regulatory Board for Auditors and a long-term audit partner at PwC South Africa, his broad expertise in enterprise risk and compliance will strengthen ACSA’s board in addressing complex operational challenges.

Sooklal is a chartered accountant with a Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com.), a Diploma in Accounting, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Tax Law from the University of Durban-Westville, along with completing the Aviation Leaders Programme in Public Policy at the National University of Singapore.

Roy Mnisi

An experienced Executive Director in the construction industry, Mnisi brings substantial expertise in legal, corporate governance, risk management, compliance, negotiation, business planning, management, strategic leadership, and policy analysis developed over nearly 20 years.

Formerly the CEO of IMFO, he is currently the Director and CEO of Master Builders South Africa.

Mnisi has an LLB and a Post Graduate Certificate in Compliance Management and is in the process of completing a Master’s in Corporate Law.

Having served on various boards, including IRBA and NHBRC, he currently chairs the JBCC.

Theunis Chamberlain

A seasoned aviation executive with more than 28 years in Engineering and ICT across airports in Africa and the Middle East, Chamberlain’s career includes eight years at O. R. Tambo International Airport (1997–2005) where he headed Electrical and Electronic Maintenance.

Shifting to technology leadership, he became IT Manager and then ICT Program Manager for ACSA starting in 2006.

Since 2007, he has provided consultancy for various airport projects across the SADC region, leveraging expertise in analytical operations, airport management, ICAO standards, systems design, program management, and business development.

Chamberlain holds an MBA in Business Administration from the University of South Africa and a B.Eng. in Electronic Engineering from the University of Johannesburg.

His proven track record will contribute significantly to ACSA’s innovation and operational efficiency.

Kurt Parker

Parker offers over 26 years of experience in Procurement and Supply Chain, project management, strategy, and operations.

He is the Managing Partner at Supply Unchained and Director at Hazishi, focusing on IT Development, Project Management, and Procurement Analytics.

Parker has previously served as Strategic Procurement Manager at Growthpoint Properties and IT Support Manager at Mutual & Federal.

He has participated in programs at GIBS Business School, including Mastering Finance and The Expert Negotiator, fortifying ACSA’s supply chain resilience.

Ulandi Exner

Exner boasts over 20 years of multinational ICT experience and is a prominent figure in technology governance and digital transformation.

Her previous roles encompass Group IT Executive, COO, and Director, along with making history as the first woman to chair the Africa ICT Alliance (AfICTA).

As a former President of the Institute of Information Technology Professionals South Africa (IITPSA), she has tirelessly worked toward professionalizing the ICT sector, promoting governance and ethical leadership.

Exner is currently a member of various boards and governance committees, shaping policy and governance frameworks at Broadband Infraco, the South Africa Police Service, Bestmed, the Presidency of South Africa, and the Department of Science and Innovation.