The Conservation Board Chairman is Dr Mbuyiselwa Patrick Sokhela, a former CEO of the Institute
of Natural Resources in Pietermaritzburg, is currently the Managing Director of Makhatini Cotton
(Pty) Ltd and has a deep interest in the agricultural sector of KZN, having been directly involved
in the sugar industry for over 20 years, initially in cane-growing and later in administration
where he became the Director: Grower Development, South African Cane Growers Association.
He is widely travelled and has also published various papers on human resource development,
organisational structures and rural upliftment. He has a masters in agricultural extension and a
doctorate in natural resource management.
Mr. Ilan Lax is an attorney with considerable experience
in and commitment to human rights in South Africa.
He served on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and has been involved with land rights
with various NGOs. In his personal capacity he is a conservationist and hiker who enjoys a number
of outdoor activities such as fly-fishing and surfing.
On the Board he serves as the Board`s Representitive on the pension and provident funds`
committees.
Mr. Thulani Nkosi is a practicing attorney whose
background is in environmental law, planning and development. He serves on the Town Planning
Appeals Board.
His experience includes tourism laws, community based tourism and community land rights.
Mr. Obed Shabangu has had considerable
experience in the organised labour sphere. He has chaired and coordinated a large number of
committees and projects relating not only to municipalities and municipal workers, but also on
subjects that relate directly to environmental care such as waste recycling, reforestation,
beekeeping, catchment management, conservation standards, the environment and education.
On the Board he serves as Chair of the Community Levy committee.
Mr. Philani Shangase is a practicing attorney
whose expertise is in labour and employment law. He served as a commissioner on the Commission for
Concillation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA).
He has been extensively involved in labour relations including bargaining, negotiation and
disciplinary procedures.
On the Board he serves as the Chair of the Human Resources Committee.
Mr. Khulani Mkhize joined the then KwaZulu
Bureau for Natural Resources that later became the KwaZulu Directorate of Nature Conservation.
After the 1994 elections Mr. Mkhize played a leading role in the negotiations leading to the
amalgamation in 1998 between the then, Natal Parks Board and the KwaZulu Directorate of Nature
Conservation, which resulted in the ultimate creation of Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife. He was appointed as
Assistant Chief Executlve Officer in which role he was closely involved in the structuring of the
new organisation in order to maximise its effectiveness. In April 2001 he was appointed Chief
Exe:cutive Officer of Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, a position he currently holds. Mr Mkhize remains
committed to an effective nature conservation authority, managing bio-diversity conservation,
eco-tourism and community conservation in the province of KwaZulu-Natal.
