About

Meet the Team

Managers

Nelly Ndlovu

General Manager

Nelly holds a BCom degree in Economics and Supply Chain Management as well as a Master’s Degree in Business Leadership. She has many years’ experience in procurement and business optimisation in Mondi.

Namika Sitharam

Financial Reporting Accountant

Namika is a qualified Chartered Accountant holding B. Com (Accounting) and B. Compt Honours (Accounting Science). She worked in the auditing profession for 2 years as an Audit Manager, and then moved into the manufacturing industry at Mondi SA, as a Financial Reporting Accountant. Namika has been the Financial Manager at Mondi Zimele since March 2023, and her mantra is that nothing lasts forever, so make the most of every breath you take.

Qedile Buthelezi

Financial Administrator

Qedile holds a National Diploma in Financial Management. She started as an intern in an accounting firm in 2015, as well as gaining valuable experience in the engineering industry and also at local municipal level. Currently the financial administrator at Mondi Zimele, Qedile places an important emphasis on balancing her books, solving problems, saving the business money – and hopes to one day become a qualified Chartered Accountant.

Small Business Development Support

Cindy Mji

Business Development Manager: Richards Bay

Cindy holds a BCom (Financial Management) degree and has a number of years experience in small business development, business operations and the forestry supply chain.

John Lloyd

Business Development Manager: Hilton

John holds an Honours Degree in Agribusiness and has a wealth of experience in the Enterprise Development space having worked across Africa in 6 developing countries. His extensive experience ranges from hospitality, commercial security, logistics, FMCG and SME development.

Tholinhlanhla Dindi

Agricultural Extension Officer: Richards Bay

Tholinhlanhla holds a National Diploma in Agriculture: Crop Production and provides extension support to developing Agriculture SMME projects, as well as providing market linkages to trade. He earned 1 year experience in the sugar cane industry with Umhlathuze Valley Sugar (UVS) and has 3 years experience at Mondi Zimele, as an Agriculture Extension Officer. Tholinhlanhla is a staunch church member, serving as pastor and community member in his home city of Richards Bay.

Forestry Development Support

Laird Mitchell

Forestry Development Manager: Hilton

Laird holds a National Diploma in Forestry and has twenty-eight years experience in the timber industry. He has experience in mechanical and manual harvesting, silviculture contracting and business development support.

Forestry Partners Program

Sizwe Mtengu

Head: Forestry Partners: Richards Bay

Sizwe holds a postgraduate diploma in Management, a BTech Agriculture and a senior certificate in sugarcane Agriculture. He has a number of years experience in small agribusiness development.

James Thobela

Forestry Development Manager

James holds a National Diploma and Baccalaureate Technologiae: Forestry from the Nelson Mandela University. He began his career as an intern forester for the Department of Agriculture, Forestry & Fisheries in 2015, and then served as a Forester for SAPPI for 4 years until 2019. Thereafter, he moved to Mondi as a Silviculture Forester and after 5 years of dedicated service, was promoted again to Forestry Development Manager at Mondi Zimele, a position which he holds today. James is passionate about creating and maintaining sustainable livelihoods in the forestry sector, with a strong emphasis on community based businesses.

Thobile Ndlovu

Forestry Development Manager

Thobile holds a National Diploma and B.Tech: Forestry, from the Nelson Mandela University; as well as a qualification in Labour Relations Law, from the University of Johannesburg, and is currently studying a post graduate diploma in Community Development at UKZN. Thobile’s career began with SAFCOL, where she spent seven years honing her skills in silviculture and harvesting. She then transitioned to SAPPI, working there for eight years where she excelled as a forester, and also played a significant role in community development through the SAPPI Khulisa program, bridging her forestry expertise with her passion for community upliftment.
In her current role as Forestry Development Manager at Mondi Zimele, Thobile continues to leverage her experience and diverse qualifications to drive sustainable forestry practices and foster community development.