- Ria Govender appointed Acting Chairperson of NERSA with effect from 15 June 2026.
- Appointment follows the resignation of former Chairperson Thembani Bukula due to health reasons.
- Veteran energy policy and regulatory expert to lead the regulator until a permanent appointment is made.
South Africa’s National Energy Regulator (NERSA) has announced the appointment of Ria Govender as Acting Chairperson, effective from 15 June 2026.
The appointment was made by the Minister of Electricity and Energy, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, in accordance with Section 5 of the National Energy Regulator Act, 2004. Govender will serve in the role until the recruitment and appointment of a permanent Chairperson has been completed.
She succeeds Thembani Bukula, who resigned as part time Regulator Member and Chairperson on 15 June 2026 due to health reasons.
Govender has served as part time Regulator Member and Deputy Chairperson of NERSA since December 2025. She brings more than 29 years of experience in electricity policy, regulation and law, having held senior positions across government, the private sector and international development programmes.
Her career includes roles as a senior government official, legal adviser, corporate counsel, transaction adviser, public private partnership adviser and policy specialist. She has also supported the development of regulatory and investment frameworks for renewable energy projects across several sub Saharan African countries, including South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Kenya, Ethiopia and Tanzania, as well as through the USAID Power Africa initiative.
Within South Africa’s energy sector, Govender has held a number of leadership positions over the past 14 years, including Executive Manager in the Office of the Director General at the former Department of Energy. As an independent energy consultant, she also served as Legal Adviser to the National Electricity Response Team, established to address the country’s electricity supply crisis that began in 2007.
She was also the founding Legal and Institutional Executive at Electricity Distribution Industry Holdings and previously served as a Legal Adviser at NERSA.
Govender holds BA Law and LLB degrees from the University of KwaZulu Natal, a Master of Laws 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.
Welcoming the appointment, NERSA Chief Executive Officer Adv. Nomalanga Sithole said Govender’s leadership would provide continuity and stability at the regulator while the process to appoint a permanent Chairperson is under way.
Sithole also thanked Bukula for his service, dedication and leadership, wishing him a full and speedy recovery.
Author: Bryan Groenendaa
