Our Leadership team
The Afris Group’s leadership team has unparalleled experience and knowledge of the African business and investment climate and have special relationships with international, regional and national funding institutions and investors operating on the African continent. Our strong personal and business networks at the administrative and regulatory levels of government and commerce give us a uniquely valuable perspective, while our proven track record in corporate executive management and board directorship make us the ideal business partner.
Dr. Mandla SV Gantsho
Executive Chairman
Dr Mandla Gantsho, a founding Principal and the Chairman of Africa Rising Capital, is an expert in infrastructure development finance with extensive experience and an in-depth knowledge of Africa’s business climate.
Previous Positions:
Financial Analyst at Mobil Oil/Engen – 1989-1992
Senior Manager at Transnet – 1992-1995
CFO at Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) – 1995-2000
International Finance Corporation (Private sector arm of the World Bank Group, in Washington D.C, USA) – 2000-2001
CEO and MD at Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) – 2001-2006
Vice-President of the African Development Bank (AfDB) – 2006-2009
Chairmanships Held:
Kumba Iron Ore Limited
Impala Platinum Holdings Limited
Sasol Limited
Ithala Development Finance Corporation Ltd
Board Positions Held:
Rand Merchant Bank
Presidential Appointments:
Appointed by President Nelson Mandela to be a Commissioner on the Finance & Fiscal Commission – 1997
Appointed by President Thabo Mbeki as one of three Commissioners on the Commission of Enquiry to investigate and report on the reasons for the Rapid Depreciation of the Rand in 2001 – 2002
Appointed by President Jacob Zuma as a government representative director on the board of the South African Reserve Bank – 2011
Appointed by President Ramaphosa to lead a South African business delegation to India on a state visit by the President of the Republic – 2019
Qualifications:
Chartered Accountant, CA (SA)
Ph.D. and an M.Phil. – University of Pretoria
M.Sc. – George Washington University (USA)
B.Com. (Hons) and CTA – University of Cape Town
Mr. Paul Dan Mojalefa
Managing Director
Mr. Paul Dan Mojalefa, is a seasoned deal originator, with more than 20 years’ experience in the areas of financial modelling, project finance, public private partnerships, debt capital markets, telecoms finance, investment bank and export credit insurance. Paul has worked on the capital raising of numerous projects for Africa Rising Capital and these include hydroelectric power projects in Zambia and Malawi, a cement project in Malawi. Before that, he was employed by Huawei Technologies as well as Standard Bank. He has led project finance teams in projects such as the rolling out of a CDMA project in Malawi, the Gautrain PPP, and the Department of Education complex PPP
Qualifications:
Bachelor of Commerce degree in Management Sciences – University of Pretoria
Honours Degree in Econometrics – University of Pretoria
Dr. Monwabisi SM Gantsho
Managing Director
Dr. Monwabisi Gantsho is a qualified medical doctor with more than 20 years of experience in senior management in private and public healthcare sectors including global economic research. His experience at senior management level includes regulatory functions, compliance and enforcement of relevant laws in complex industries in South Africa.
Previous Positions:
Registrar and Chief Executive of the Council for Medical Schemes – 2010-2015
Regular International Visiting Scholar, Researcher and Visiting Lecturer – Various Universities in the USA
Member of the Board of Visitors – The Faculty of Health Sciences & Nursing at Robert Morris University, Pittsburgh (USA)
Board Positions Held:
Foundation at St Alban’s College in Pretoria
Qualifications:
Qualified Medical Doctor
Member of South African Medical Association (SAMA) and Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA)
M.Phil: philosophy-political science-economics (PPE) – Nelson Mandela University
MB.ChB: Health Sciences; Health Systems; Community Health – University of Natal, Durban (kwaZulu Natal)
Postgraduate Fellow of Centres for Leadership and Public Values and Management – University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business in collaboration with Duke University (USA)
Alumni of the Leadership Development Program at INSEAD University (France)
