GQEBERHA – The Mandela Bay Development Agency (MBDA) has appointed its founding chief executive, Dr Pierre Voges, as interim CEO for the next five months as it seeks to restore stability after months of leadership uncertainty.
The appointment was announced yesterday, with Voges officially stepping into the role.
The appointment comes after the former CEO was placed on precautionary suspension and later dismissed in March on charges the Board said were unrelated to the reasons for his suspension.
According to the MBDA, the former CEO has since launched several legal proceedings against the agency, which remain ongoing.
The agency said those matters have prevented the Board from permanently filling the CEO position at this stage.
Finance Manager Unathi Peter has served as Acting CEO since January, maintaining continuity while investigations continued and the Board prepared to strengthen leadership through the appointment of an interim CEO.
The MBDA said Voges’ appointment would bring “immediate stability” to the organisation.
During his five-month tenure, Voges will review and reset the agency to ensure its structure is fit for purpose, prepare the organisation for the upcoming Auditor-General audit and strengthen capacity within the senior management team.
Voges is no stranger to the MBDA. He was the agency’s founding CEO when it was established in 2004 and has since led several large-scale development entities in the Western Cape.
Until recently, he worked as an Urban Planning Director for a prominent organisation in Saudi Arabia.
Drawing on his experience of living and working in many countries, Voges reflected on how Gqeberha shaped his understanding of what makes a city work for ordinary citizens.
“This city has all the ingredients to become a place for everyone,” he said.
“My goal is to position and support the MBDA over the next five months, so that when a new CEO is appointed, he or she will be able to focus on the right priorities and continue building on the vision for the city for which the entity was established. I understand its purpose and potential and hope to lay a strong foundation for the next phase of its journey.”
The Board said Voges’ appointment reflects its commitment to strong governance, transparency and the responsible management of public resources.
The interim appointment followed a recruitment process managed by an external recruitment agency.
The MBDA said 88 applications were received, with shortlisted candidates interviewed by a panel comprising Board members and an independent Audit Committee member.
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