New ACSA Board Appointed to Oversee Major R21 Billion Airport Expansion Project

Johannesburg – Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) has announced its new board of directors, tasked with steering the state-owned entity through a pivotal phase of infrastructure development and operational recovery.

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

Moreover, ACSA is set to welcome Kurt Parker and Ulandi Exner to the board on 6 August 2026.

The arrival of these new board members is timely as ACSA ramps up its R21 billion airport upgrade project and innovative strategies to enhance connectivity, passenger experiences, and operational resilience.

ACSA’s successful turnaround is evidenced by its outstanding financial results for the year ending 31 March 2025, posting a record net profit of R1.1 billion, which is more than double the R472 million reported in 2023/24.

This robust financial performance has led to the approval of R198 million in accrued preference share dividends, along with R113 million in ordinary share dividends for 2024/25.

With these strategic additions, ACSA’s Board of Directors now comprises twelve members, merging experienced industry professionals with innovative thinkers dedicated to advancing aviation excellence.

This diverse expertise will boost ACSA’s ability to enhance connectivity, improve passenger experiences, strengthen governance, and effectively execute its infrastructure initiatives while paving the way for sustainable growth.

New ACSA Board Members:

Irvin Phenyane (Chairperson)

Bringing over 20 years of experience in aviation, including leadership in greenfield airport projects and innovative initiatives for aviation destination development, Irvin possesses a wealth of knowledge.

Having held Non-Executive Director roles at ACSA and TETA, he also served as part of the International Air Services Licensing Council for four years. Currently, he chairs the Drone Council SA.

This business consultant has provided strategic advice on transformation, project management, and global business development.

Since 2008, he has been an advocate for the taxi industry, contributing during significant events like the 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2013 CAF Football Tournament. His recent MPhil in 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 vision will effectively steer ACSA’s board.

Xoliswa Daku

As the Founder and CEO of DAKU (PTY) Ltd, Xoliswa leads a private enterprise boasting diverse subsidiaries in property, law, and energy, with an impressive 29 years in legal practice.

Her past leadership roles include chairing both SEDFA and the University of the Western Cape. She holds an LLM and an EMBA, in addition to various international postgraduate business qualifications.

Daku’s board experience spans over 26 years, including governance and institutional framework engagements, foreign direct investment, trade, and industry matters.

Having partnered with multinational companies worldwide, she consistently seeks avenues for growth, demonstrating a commitment to community development.

Keitumetse Mahlangu

As an admitted attorney, Keitumetse boasts over 20 years of experience in legal practice, governance, investigations, and cross-border road transport regulation.

She has served on various Boards and Audit Committees, including roles at the Cross-Border Road Transport Agency and the Gauteng Film Commission, among others.

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

Furthermore, she has completed several Law courses across various international institutions, with her expertise in transportation, property, and public sector governance poised to advance ACSA’s strategic objectives.

Surendra Sooklal

With over 35 years of expertise in risk management, auditing (both external and internal), regulatory oversight, and governance, Surendra previously held the position of Group Executive at MTN, where he was the Group Chief Business Risk Officer.

He oversaw risk management, internal audit, group insurance, crisis management, and cybersecurity. Additionally, he has served as a long-standing audit partner at PwC South Africa and has comprehensive knowledge of enterprise risk and compliance.

As a chartered accountant, Surendra holds a Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com.), a Diploma in Accounting, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Tax Law from the University of Durban-Westville, as well as completing the Aviation Leaders Programme in Public Policy at the National University of Singapore.

Roy Mnisi

An experienced Executive Director in the construction industry, Roy has developed substantial expertise in legal matters, corporate governance, risk management, compliance, negotiation, business planning, and strategic leadership over nearly two decades.

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

Roy holds an LLB and a Post Graduate Certificate in Compliance Management and is working towards a Master’s in Corporate Law.

Having served on various boards, including IRBA and NHBRC, he is currently the chair of JBCC.

Theunis Chamberlain

An accomplished aviation executive with over 28 years in Engineering and ICT across airports in Africa and the Middle East, Theunis has a background that includes eight years at O.R. Tambo International Airport, where he held the position of Head of Electrical and Electronic Maintenance.

He moved into technology leadership roles, beginning as IT Manager and progressing to ICT Program Manager for ACSA in 2006.

Since 2007, Theunis has provided expert consultancy for various airport projects in the SADC region, focusing on analytical operations, airport management, ICAO standards, systems design, program management, and business development.

He 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 bolster ACSA’s innovation and operational capacity.

Kurt Parker

Kurt brings more than 26 years of experience in Procurement and Supply Chain, project management, strategy, and operations.

As the Managing Partner at Supply Unchained and a Director at Hazishi, he concentrates on IT Development, Project Management, and Procurement Analytics.

Previously, Kurt worked as Strategic Procurement Manager at Growthpoint Properties and IT Support Manager at Mutual & Federal.

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

Ulandi Exner

With over two decades of experience in multinational ICT, Ulandi is a notable leader in technology governance and digital transformation.

Her previous roles span Group IT Executive, COO, and Director, and she made 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), Ulandi has vigorously worked towards the professionalization of the ICT industry, enhancing governance and ethical leadership.

Ulandi currently serves on several boards and governance committees, shaping policy and governance frameworks for Broadband Infraco, the South African Police Service, Bestmed, the Presidency of South Africa, and the Department of Science and Innovation.