The content on this page is not written by Polity.org.za, but is supplied by third parties. This content does not constitute news reporting by Polity.org.za.

The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) announced today that the Minister of Electricity and Energy, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, appointed Ms Ria Govender as Acting Chairperson of NERSA.

Her appointment takes effect from 15 June 2026 and will continue until the recruitment and appointment process for the Chairperson has been finalised. The appointment is in line with section 5 of the National Energy Regulator Act, 2004 (Act No. 40 of 2004).

Ms Govender’s appointment follows the resignation of Mr Thembani Bukula as part-time Regulator Member and Chairperson of NERSA, effective 15 June 2026, due to health reasons.

Ms Govender became a part-time Regulator Member and Deputy Chairperson of NERSA on 15 December 2025. She has more than 29 years of policy, legal and regulatory experience in the electricity industry. Her roles have included senior government official, legal adviser, corporate counsel, senior transaction adviser, public-private partnership adviser and policy and institutional adviser. She has also contributed to creating enabling environments for private sector investment in renewable energy in selected sub-Saharan African countries, including South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Kenya, Ethiopia and Tanzania, as well as through the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Power Africa initiative.

Ms Govender has more than 14 years of experience in South Africa’s energy sector, holding several leadership positions. These include serving as Executive Manager in the Office of the Director-General at the Department of Energy. She also worked as an independent energy consultant and, in that capacity, served as Legal Adviser to the National Electricity Response Team project, which was initiated in response to the electricity supply crisis that started in 2007/08. She was also the founding Legal and Institutional Executive at Electricity Distribution Industry (EDI) Holdings, a position she held for five years. Before joining EDI Holdings, Ms Govender worked as a Legal Adviser at the National Energy Regulator of South Africa.

She holds a BA (Law) and LLB from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, a Master of Laws (LLM) from the University of South Africa, postgraduate diplomas in human resources and project management, and an MSc in Energy Policy, with distinction, from the University of Sussex in the United Kingdom.

"On behalf of the organisation, we congratulate Ms Govender on her appointment. Her leadership as NERSA Chairperson will support continuity and stability within the Energy Regulator. NERSA also extends its sincere appreciation to Mr Bukula for his invaluable service, dedication and leadership. We wish him every success in his future endeavours and a full and speedy recovery," said NERSA CEO, Adv. Nomalanga Sithole.

Issued by: NERSA