Thabane Zulu

CEO Richards Bay Industrial Development Zone, Republic of South Africa

Thabane Zulu is employed as the Chief Executive Officer for the RBIDZ (Special Economic Zone).  

Mr Zulu is an astute leader equipped with extensive experience in provincial and national government, public service administration and economic development. He further possesses capabilities not only on the technical issues of the government’s mandate, but is also phenomenally attuned to complex strategic environment as well as the mandate of the Special Economic Zones. He also boasts over 15 years of experience in management and corporate governance.  

Zulu has vast experience having held various senior positions in local, provincial and national government amongst them being; 

Director General for the Department of Minerals Resources and Energy, responsible for bolstering South Africa’s efforts for entrenching the energy mix paradigm for radical economic transformation, and harnessing energy access as well as leading the Department of Minerals Resources and Energy on international relations strategic engagements and managing bilateral and multilateral engagements on energy and climate change; 

Director-General responsible for Human Settlements and a host of other housing institutions; 

Director for International Trade and Development for Africa and the Middle East at the Department of Trade and Industry, profiling and showcasing the investment facilitation sector; and 

Head of KwaZulu-Natal’s Department of Social Development responsible for transforming the Department, and ensuring strategic alignment of the department’s objectives.  

Zulu holds a B Administration (Hons) Degree from the University of the Western Cape and an MBA from the Management College of Southern Africa. 

In his current position as the CEO for the Richards Bay IDZ, he is tasked with the responsibility of bridging the gap between the entity and all spheres of government and driving the company’s mandate that is aimed at effectively transforming the economy and accelerating industrial development as well as attracting domestic and foreign direct investments into the Industrial estate utilizing international competitiveness and unique government incentives.