KNYSNA NEWS – The municipality has welcomed two new, important staff members to its ranks, with Astrid Louw the new Chief Audit Executive and Tholi Biyela the new Manager of Electrical & Mechanical Services. The appointments were announced by Knysna Municipality last week.
Astrid Louw
The Chief Audit Executive is responsible for the overall functioning of the Internal Audit Department providing independent assurance advice and insight on the effectiveness and adequacy of controls, risk management and governance processes.
Louw comes from the John Tado Gaetsewe District Municipality in the Northern Cape, where she developed and implemented Internal Audit strategic and operational audit plans.
She prepared, implemented and monitored policies and procedures for the effective functioning of the internal audit unit.
A seasoned internal auditor with over a decade of experience in the field, she obtained a Bcom Accounting degree from the North West University and has been a member of the Institute of Internal Auditors since 2009. Born and bred in George, Louw said she is delighted to be back in the Garden Route.
"Closer to home to plough back to the community that shaped me into the person I am today. I've always been chasing career progression and growth and I believe I have arrived home." Louw hopes to improve the effectiveness of the internal audit unit through value-adding assurance and strives to make a positive contribution towards achieving a clean audit status.
Tholi Biyela
Before moving to Knysna, Biyela was a Field Service Engineer for Eskom Distribution in Worcester responsible for the operations and maintenance services of the Boland and Overberg Sector.
Born in Sikhalasenkosi Township in Richards Bay (formerly Esikhawini), Biyela holds a Bachelor of Sciences in Electrical Engineering from the University of Cape Town and a Government Certificate of Competency.
Asked for comment on his new appointment, Biyela said: "I see myself growing in this municipality and being instrumental in the development of infrastructure services that will render sustainable development and adequate services to Greater Knysna through innovative and modern-day engineering."
Biyela also says he will primarily focus on training, development, effective maintenance processes and finding innovative permanent solutions to address some of the challenges in his department.
Tholi Biyela
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