Dr Innocent Khathutshelo Sirovha, an alumnus of the School of Public Management and Administration (SPMA) at the University of Pretoria, was recently appointed to head the Agricultural Sector Education and Training Authority (AgriSETA) as its Chief Executive Officer.

Dr Sirovha graduated with a Master’s in Public Administration in 2012 and a doctoral degree in 2018, both from the SPMA. He is a seasoned leader with expertise in strategic planning and development, rural development, policy development and analysis, organisational restructuring and transformation, performance management systems and project management.

Expressing excitement at the news of his appointment he says, “My first priority for AgriSETA is to ensure that we get a clean-audit, drive the organisation to excellence and contribute towards reducing unemployment and poverty, particularly in rural areas.”

Prior to his recent appointment, Dr Sirovha was the municipal manager of the Greater Letaba Local Municipality in Limpopo province, where for two years in succession under his stewardship, the municipality obtained the best municipality in good-governance, unqualified audit opinion by the Auditor-General of South Africa. Before joining the Greater Letaba municipality, he was the municipal manager of Bojanala District Municipality, where he also served concurrently as the chairperson of the North-West Province chapter of the South African Local Government Association’s Municipal Managers Forum.

In her announcement of Dr Sirovha’s appointment, AgriSETA Board Chairperson Gaitsiwe Sharon Sepeng lauded his comprehensive understanding of rural development issues and interest in environmental awareness matters. “He is a well-rounded and grounded person and I have full confidence in his ability to lead the organisation, and to keep its performance momentum over the next five years.”