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ith over 23 years experience as a civil servant, Deputy Director at the Department of Trade and Industry and Competition (DTIC), Dr Nthabiseng Maude Mthethwa is committed to serve and create more jobs for South Africans. Since joining the organisation, she’s contributed to growth and improvement. She has built and led many teams, and encouraged them to empower themselves in the process by attending courses that the department offers, and sector focused courses in agro-processing and aquaculture. She says she believes that she has what it takes to be a leading woman in the public sector. “I seriously consider myself that I’ve been sent to fulfil some destiny, to leave a mark, inspire, create and ensure that this world becomes a better place. I have made my mark in the twenty three years as a civil servant, upskilling and upscaling myself to better serve and passionately deliver during my tenure in office,” she said. Former DTIC Minister, Dr Rob Davies, entrusted her with the management of board positions, a responsibility she’s had for six years, which is two full-terms in the Incentives Unit. “Currently I serve in the Batho Pele Forum to make sure that the department complies especially in openness and transparency and access to information. I [was] deployed to Asia in 2010 to the World Expo to represent South Africa for
three months. I have worked with the export councils to assist them with their mandate to represent the department in the past - as the advisor and just to make sure that the vision is aligned,” she says. Touching on the challenges and rewards she’s seen in her position, Nthabiseng shared that she’s mostly not at home, as she handles international relations for the DTIC. Along with a cross-cultural understanding, this position touches lives in global markets and involves being accountable and adaptable. “Through [the role] I have played [a role] in promoting business linkages and building relationships, both nationally and internationally. [I’ve] also participated in many state visits, outward and inward, through the President’s office and the Department of International Relations and Cooperation and embassies. I have also served in the Wellness Committee and even won the award for being one of the most dedicated employees in our team. I was fortunate enough to have been chosen to go to Israel on a scholarship programme to further my studies in [the] management of HIV and AIDS.” In 2003, Nthabiseng led forty South Africa business women to the Global Summit of Women - in Marrakesh, Morocco - with the then Deputy Minister, Lindiwe Hendricks. She also facilitated and led a delegation of 15 emerging farmers to Minneapolis, in the US, to seek opportunities, joint
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venture partners and new technology in farming. Along with her other accolades, she has also been recognised by the Turkish Women’s Chamber for the Award of Excellence. “I have been to more than 54 countries doing investment promotion and facilitation [and] diplomacy work. As part of Team South Africa, we have brought several companies to invest in South Africa and have taken South African companies through the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition abroad to seek joint venture opportunities and seek more export opportunities. As a leader of our department, I have groomed many interns who are now in higher management positions. As a department, we prioritise gender empowerment and we are on track as most women are now in senior positions,” she said. In 2022 Dr Nthabiseng Maude Mthethwa won the Standard Bank Top Women Leader in Public Sector award. On the hopes she has for the department for the future, she says she hopes she imparts leadership skills, gains management experience, and empowers as many team members as possible by instilling ‘Batho Pele’ principles. “Putting people first and leading by example is my priority as I sit in the Batho Pele Forum knowing that empowerment principles are applied at all times,” - Dr Nthabiseng Mthethwa.
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