By: Puleng Maphisa- 23 March 2023

Mr Leonard Swana, the Executive Director responsible for Operations and Logistics at the Vaal University of Technology (VUT), was recently appointed by the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure to the 6^th Council of the South African Council for the Project and Construction Management Professions (SACPCMP).

Mr Swana joins the ten-member Council which will oversee the regulation and promotion of specific Built Environment Management Professions in the country, over the next four years. The Council held its first meeting after the induction on 28 February 2023.

To carry out its oversight responsibilities as per their perspective approved terms of reference, the Council constitutes various committees including the Regulatory Matters Committee and the Human Resource, Remuneration and Nominations Committee, wherein Mr Swana serves. Respectively, the two committees will ensure that the thirteen (13) legislative/statutory mandates of the SACPCMP such as professional development, policy fees and charges, are fulfilled, , as well as providing oversight on all HR matters and structural issues of organisation, oversight on the remuneration of the executives and oversight on the nominations process for the next Council.

A visionary leader, an Engineering Manager and Project Management Professional, Mr Swana brings to the table a wealth of experience spanning close to three decades in the Built Environment profession. His traceable exposure was gained across a range of sectors including Local Government, Private Sector (Consulting), State Owned Entity (under the SEZ/IDZ) and Higher Education Sector. Over his career, he has held different management positions (covering 23 years) – from Housing and Building Manager, Programme Manager, Technical Manager, Managing Executive to his current role which he assumed from 2019.

As a Project Management Professional, Mr Swana has held professional registrations with SACPCMP as a PrCPM, PMP with PMI-US, PRINCE2 Practitioner with UK based Project Management Organisation. He has also acquired qualifications in Civil Engineering, specialising in Urban Engineering and further completed an MBA in order to enhance his management and leadership skills.

Welcoming the appointment, he said it presents an opportunity for growth in the corporate governance space, also adding that he has something to offer given his expertise and aptness for the task at hand. He also believes that the involvement in such a Council will benefit VUT as the one of the client bodies charged with the delivery of infrastructure within the Higher Education Sector.  “We should be able to benefit from the good industry practices in Project Delivery and Management.  VUT should also look into its offerings and see if there are any programs that will need the accreditation of this body and take advantage in the near future,” he said.

A qualified theologist, when Mr Swana is not onsite wearing personal protective equipment (PPE), he’s likely to be found at the pulpit ministering – a calling he has answered for over twenty-five (25) years. As a dedicated crusader of Christianity, he also serves on n the Board of Christian Education (BCE), a national body regulating Theological Colleges of the Full Gospel Church of God in SA.

The VUT Community congratulates Mr Swana.