Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) has appointed former chief financial officer Siphamandla Mthethwa as its new chief executive officer, bringing him back to the state-owned airport operator more than three years after his departure.
Mthethwa will take up the position on 1 November 2026 and will also serve as an executive director of ACSA. His appointment follows a Cabinet decision on 23 September.
He replaces Charles Shilowa, who has served as acting CEO since 1 July following the departure of former chief executive Mpumi Mpofu.
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Mthethwa is no stranger to ACSA. He joined the company as chief financial officer in 2020 and served as an executive director during a period in which the aviation industry faced severe financial pressure caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
ACSA records show that he served as CFO from May 2020 until his departure in May 2023. He is a chartered accountant and holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting/CTA, BCompt Honours and BCom Accounting qualifications.
During his previous tenure, Mthethwa was involved in the company’s financial management and recovery as passenger numbers collapsed during the pandemic.
His return places him at the helm of one of South Africa’s most important transport entities. ACSA operates nine airports across the country, including OR Tambo International Airport in Gauteng, Cape Town International Airport in the Western Cape and King Shaka International Airport in KwaZulu-Natal.
The appointment comes as ACSA continues its post-pandemic recovery and prepares for further investment in airport infrastructure.
Mthethwa takes over from Shilowa, who was appointed acting CEO after ACSA announced in May that Mpofu would leave when her fixed-term contract expired on 30 June.
At the time, ACSA said Shilowa would work with the board to maintain leadership continuity while a formal process was undertaken to appoint a permanent chief executive.
Mpofu had led ACSA for six years, including through the collapse in air travel during the pandemic and the company’s subsequent financial recovery.
ACSA’s latest reporting shows the airport operator has since returned to a stronger financial position as passenger traffic and aviation activity recovered.
