Join Port Elizabeth and MyPE in congratulating Mover and Shaker, Babalwa Lobishe from Coega Development Corporation:
Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Development, Tourism and Agriculture, Babalwa Lobishe, has risen quickly in the ranks of the municipality for someone her age, but at her core is an unwavering commitment to ethical and vision-orientated leadership.
“Leadership development and training is important for young girls and women to become more than assets of our communities – so they can lead communities out of the many challenges that face us,” said Cllr. Lobishe. “I was lucky enough to be one of those women who was nurtured into leadership and it is my wish for all young women.”
Lobishe was appointed as one of the new Coega CDC board directors earlier this year, together with Johannesburg-based Advocate Thandi Norman.
She attended her first board meeting at the CDC in July and said the experience was “interesting”. “I will learn a lot. Being a board member gives me some kind of feeling that we, as the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, are involved and our needs of the city will be represented. I am confident our views will be heard and expressed further,” she said.
Lobishe holds another board position locally, representing the municipality on the Mandela Bay Development Agency (MBDA) board.
Celebrating her recent ascent, Lobishe is cognisant that her victory is not everyone’s and that there is a need to treat every month like women’s month.
She said there were many women who occupy senior positions, but even so it was important to identify the gaps for woman empowerment across various industries.
“It is high time we focus on developmental areas, to be an asset to our communities. For example, there are woman lawyers and engineers, but if you look for someone who can draft policies about youth development, it is rare to find someone who can operate in this sphere.
“We have to identify the gaps and explore these areas and not duplicate already existing jobs. What we must ask is how do we care for socio-economic challenges and train young people to be self-reliant? We have the potential to shape the future of our country.
“There is a scarcity of work at the moment but we need to try to work around it to curb poverty and unemployment,” Lobishe said.
Lobishe is currently studying towards her Masters of Public Administration at the University of Fort Hare in Bhisho Campus. She graduated from Lungisa High School in Port Elizabeth in 1998 and has a Bachelor of Commerce in Economics and Business Management from the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (then Vista University).
Lobishe joined the African National Congress (ANC) in 1999 and assisted in community mobilisation and development. In 2000 she was elected as a branch Secretary for South African student Congress. Served as a Provincial Executive member of the ANCYL in 2008 -2010. Since 2008 until recently she was an ANC regional leader under Sports and Economic Development desk. In May 2011 she was deployed by the ANC to serve as mayoral committee member for Sports, Arts and Culture. In March 2013 she was redeployed to be Mayoral committee member responsible for Economic Development, Tourism and Agriculture until now.
Lobishe, the middle child of six children, was born in KwaZakhele but relocated with her family to KwaDwesi where she grew up. When Lobishe is not busy juggling her responsibilities at work and roles on the two boards she sits on, she enjoys reading a good book and occasionally designs her own clothing.
Dr Ayanda Vilakazi, the CDC head of marketing and communications manager, welcomed Lobishe’s appointment as board director. “It is with pleasure that we welcome someone of Cllr Lobishe’s calibre onto the board. She is a leading example of a dynamic woman in a leadership role.”
Submitted by: Ayanda Vilikazi on behalf of Coega Development Corporation.
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Alan Straton
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A breathe of fresh air and a feeling of Spring amongst our officialdom of our region! I am involved with organic vegetable growing and construction of food tunnels. URBAN GARDENS is nearing the completion of the first organic learning centre at the Elukholweni Primary school. The children will be taught how to plant their own vegetables and the value of nutritious food. Good luck and keep up the good work.