At the bustling check-in desks of OR Tambo International, the hum of passengers masks a quieter change in the boardroom: Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) has named Siphamandla Mthethwa as its next chief executive officer.
According to a statement released by ACSA, Mthethwa will assume the role on 1 November 2026 and will also serve as the company’s executive director. The announcement also notes that acting CEO Charles Shilowa will step down from his duties at that time.
Mthethwa is no stranger to the airport operator. He worked at ACSA from 2020 to 2023 as chief financial officer (CFO) and executive director, providing “strategic financial leadership” for South Africa’s network of nine major airports. Prior to that he held senior positions in state-owned entities such as the Central Energy Fund and the African Exploration, Mining and Finance Corporation. During his ACSA tenure he led a R6 billion funding programme, oversaw the implementation of a financial recovery strategy that helped the company survive the COVID-19 downturn, and facilitated the issuance of a R1.8 billion bond that carried no government guarantee.
For airlines, concessionaires and the many small-business suppliers that depend on airport traffic, a change at the top can affect everything from fee structures to capital-intensive projects such as terminal upgrades. Mthethwa’s track record in raising finance without a state guarantee suggests he may continue to lean on market funding to support ACSA’s expansion plans, which could keep airport-related contracts flowing to local firms.
The previous permanent CEO, Mpumi Mpofu, left the post in July 2026 after a tenure that saw ACSA’s revenue rise by 16 percent in the 2024 financial year. Forbes recognised Mpofu as one of the 25 most influential CEOs in South Africa, crediting her with stabilising the aviation sector after years of pandemic-related uncertainty.
The board’s statement praised Shilowa’s “valued leadership and stewardship” during his acting tenure and extended “best wishes” to Mthethwa. No specific strategic shifts were announced alongside the appointment, leaving industry observers to watch how the new CEO will balance fiscal discipline with the need for infrastructure upgrades.
Stakeholders will be watching the first quarterly report under Mthethwa’s leadership for clues about fee adjustments, capital-expenditure priorities and any changes to the company’s approach to sustainability reporting. For small-business owners in the airport ecosystem, the appointment is a reminder that leadership changes at the top can ripple down to contract opportunities and operational expectations.
For more coverage of ACSA’s financial moves and the broader aviation market, see our Markets & Finance section.
BusinessTech reported that Siphamandla Mthethwa’s career includes senior posts at the Central Energy Fund and the African Exploration, Mining and Finance Corporation before he returned to ACSA in 2020. During his three-year stint as chief financial officer and executive director he was responsible for “strategic financial leadership for South Africa’s network of nine major airports”, a remit that covered both OR Tambo International and King Shaka. He takes over the permanent role on 1 November 2026 from acting chief executive Charles Shilowa.
The appointment of a new chief executive at a state-owned entity follows a formal board resolution, a public announcement and a hand-over period during which the outgoing acting chief ensures continuity of operations. For South African business owners this process matters because the CEO shapes the strategic direction, fee structures and procurement policies that affect contracts with concessionaires, suppliers and service providers. Understanding the timeline of board meetings, regulatory filings and the first quarterly report under new leadership helps firms anticipate any shifts in commercial terms or investment priorities.
Stakeholders should watch the first quarterly financial statements after 1 November 2026 for signals of fee adjustments, capital-expenditure allocations and any revisions to sustainability reporting. Attention will also be on how the board balances the need for infrastructure upgrades with fiscal discipline. Small-business owners in the airport ecosystem will want to monitor tender notices and partnership opportunities that may arise from new projects financed through market-based instruments similar to the earlier R1.8 billion bond.
