A chapter of the Mail & Guardian‘s 200 Young South Africans You Must Take to Lunch
Nazmeera Moola
With a slate of awards to her name, Nazmeera is now head of macro-strategy at Macquarie Bank. She leads economic analysis and is responsible for asset allocation and equity sector allocation — distilled into a favoured company list.
Nazmeera was previously Merrill Lynch’s South African economist and also worked for the bank in London as a global emerging market strategist.
She is a trend-setting economist: she has published path-breaking research into the black middle class, a possible diesel shortage in Gauteng and a detailed report on the state’s infrastructure plans.
She writes a feisty and pithy weekly column in the Financial Mail that breaks the mould of economic analysis. Her awards include: Reuters Economist of the Year (2005); rated first in South Africa in the 2005 Extel Survey; she has consistently made it to top ranks in the annual Financial Mail analysts survey and is regularly featured in the Mail & Guardian‘s annual book of women movers as well as the Financial Mail‘s Little Black Book.
Lunch spot: Bizerca in Cape Town and Thomas Maxwell in Johannesburg
Pat Sithebe
In 2004 Pat set a global record in terms of time-to-time market implementation for Continuous Linked Settlement at Absa. As head of payments for the bank, her daily responsibilities include cross-border and domestic payment operations and monitoring of the bank’s cash management and liquidity. She is recognised as a professional who is committed to skills transfer, and has mentored many young people.
In the banking sector she is seen as an intrepid futurist with great tenacity to revolutionise the banking system to ensure client and customer contentment. Pat aims to ram the boundaries of payments technology, processing power, resources and innovation to achieve the transition to global payments utility. She has strategically and successfully forged partnerships, enabling Absa to play an increasingly decisive role with regards to payments as core of banking business. In 2007 she won an Association of Black Securities and Investment Professionals Award.
Lunch spot: Moyo, Zoo Lake, Johannesburg
Sihle Zulu
Sihle has worked in the brand marketing and general management industry for the past 12 years. With an honours degree in administration from the University of Zululand, he has gained experience with some of the most reputable companies in the industry. Positions he has held include assistant brand manager and consumer relations manager for British American Tobacco SA, brand manager for Tiger Foods Brands, brand development manager for SAB Miller Africa and Asia and marketing manager for Premiere Foods.
Moving into insurance did not faze Sihle, and once at Hollard Insurance he proved his ability in his roles as marketing manager, portfolio manager and general manager: retail. Last year he received the Insurance Achievement Award. Sihle sits on the Hollard Employee Trust Board and Pepkor/Hollard JV Advisory Board.
Lunch spot: TsAfrica, Randburg, Johannesburg
Refilwe Moletsane
After receiving a bachelor of jurisprudence degree, Refilwe went on to participate in the University of Cape Town’s Leadership Advancement Programme. Armed with knowledge and leadership skills, she successfully held a long career at Hollard Insurance. She moved through the ranks and became project manager. Looking for a bigger challenge, she had a short stint with Mutual & Federal before being asked to accept the position as second-in-charge at the South African Insurance Association.
According to chief executive Barry Scott, it was Refilwe’s specific, in-depth short-term insurance knowledge that made her the most sought-after candidate. For Refilwe the opportunity to broaden her horizons and make a difference could not be passed. With the industry facing many legislative changes she is motivated to be part of the process ensuring that the legislative changes are positive for all parties concerned.
Lunch spot: Wombles, Parktown North, Johannesburg
Pheello James Ndweni
Pheello attended school in his home village and then pursued an accounting degree at the University of the Free State. There he became involved in student politics affiliated to the South African Student Congress and ANC Youth League. In his second year Pheello was among the top 15% of academic achievers, earning him membership of the Golden Key International Honour Society. He worked in the evaluation committee at Kovsie Student Community Service Organisation in 2006 and last year became a peer facilitator at the University of the Free State. Nominated three times, he is the winner of the Top Student Award from the Association of Black Securities and the Investment Professionals’ Financial Award. Pheello is studying towards an honours in accounting, and is a student assistant and a tutor at the University of the Free State.
Lunch spot: Spur