Media release from the Competition Commission
12November 2008
Competition Commission appoints Deputy Commissioner
The Minister of Trade and Industry has appointed Tembinkosi Bonakele as Deputy Commissioner of the Competition Commission with immediate effect.
The Competition Act requires at least one Deputy Commissioner with ‘suitable qualifications and experience in economics, law, commerce, industry or public affairs to assist the Commissioner in carrying out the affairs of the Competition Commission’.
Bonakele joined the Competition Commission in March 2005 as an inhouse lawyer. He later moved on to manage the Compliance Division, and his work included promoting compliance with the Competition Act, communications and advocacy. In 2007 he was moved to the position of the Divisional Manager of Mergers & Acquisitions, a position he held prior to his appointment as a Deputy Commssioner.
Bonakele is a qualified attorney, practicing initially with Cheadle Thompson & Haysom Attorneys in Johannesburg. He also spent a year working in the Mergers and Acquisitions Group of Clifford Chance in New York.
The Commissioner, Shan Ramburuth, said Bonakele’s promotion will give him responsibility for ensuring consistent implementation of the agency’s strategic plan and integrating the cross-divisional work in targeted sectors such as food and agro-processing, telecommunications and infrastructure and construction.
“Tembinkosi will be responsible for overseeing the operations of the Commission. By working closely with the Enforcement and Exemption division and the Policy and Research team, Tembi was effective in applying shared knowledge to assessing the competitive nature of our economy when reviewing mergers. As Deputy Commissioner he can help the organisation institutionalise this ethos.”
“I am looking forward to serving the Commission and the people of South Africa in this new position”, said Bonakele.
A new Manager for the Mergers & Acquisitions division will be appointed in due course.
ENDS
Prepared by: FD Beachhead
Dani Cohen - 021 487 9000 / 082 897 0443 /
Jennifer Cohen- 011 214 2401/ 082 468 6469/
On behalf of: The Competition Commission
Further info:
Shan Ramburuth 012 394 3332 / 083 357 1685
Tembinkosi Bonakele 012 394 3302 / 079 872 3659