Avis Southern Africa Executive Team

Ramasela Ganda

Chief Executive

Ramasela Ganda is the Chief Executive of Avis Budget Southern Africa

The accomplished leader brings extensive experience acquired from several blue-chip companies including Vodacom, Telkom and the National Nuclear Regulator. Having joined the Barloworld Group in 2017 as Chief Financial Officer of Barloworld Equipment: Rental and Used, and was being appointed Executive Head of Business Services.

Ramasela is a qualified chartered accountant with a B. Com (Hons. & CTA) from the University of Pretoria. She is a distinguished professional with over 25 years of strategic and financial experience.

Some of her notable accolades include Public Sector CFO of the Year 2017 from CFO SA. She was named Public Sector CFO of the Year 2016 by African Women Chartered Accountants. Ramasela was a finalist for Business Woman of the Year 2016 and; CFO of the Year 2016 awarded, by The Association of Black Securities and Investment Professionals (ABSIP).

Women’s empowerment is close to her heart, and she believes in paying it forward. She has committed herself to empowering and offering young women opportunities that will see them assuming positions of influence.

Thobeka Ntshiza CA (SA)

Financial Director

Thobeka Ntshiza, Financial Director at Avis Budget Southern Africa has over 17 years of experience in the, Automotive, Logistics, FMCG and Manufacturing environments, gained from several blue-chip companies including Aveng Manufacturing, Coca-Cola South Africa, and Sasol. She is a Chartered Accountant and has completed her articles with Sasol Chemical Industries. She joined the Barloworld Group in February 2018 as a Financial Director at Barloworld Logistics: Supply Chain Management.

One of her career highlights includes being a finalist for SAICA Top 35 under 35 CAs in 2015. Thobeka holds various leadership qualifications in addition to her two post-graduate degrees in Accounting and Financial Management from the University of KwaZulu Natal.

She serves as a council member of Children of the Dawn, a foundation which supports and strengthens rural communities with a focus on orphans in South Africa. Previously she served on The Coca-Cola Africa Foundation and as an audit committee member of the Robben Island Museum, a position she held from 2013 to 2019.

Tlhabi Ntlha CA (SA)

Chief Operations Officer

Tlhabi Ntlha is the Chief Operations Officer at Avis Budget Southern Africa. The qualified chartered accountant joined the Barloworld Group in 2012 as part of the CA Training Programme. This opportunity saw her working in the Barloworld Corporate Office, Barloworld Equipment, Barloworld Internal Audit Services and Avis Fleet.

Upon completing her CA Training Programme, Tlhabi was appointed as the Financial Manager for Avis Fleet Namibia and Botswana in 2015. She then moved into a Strategy Analyst role in 2016 before assuming the role of Executive: Strategy for Avis Fleet in 2017. She has held positions in Business Excellence as part of deploying the Barloworld Business System lean leadership framework.

Having worked on several strategic growth projects across the Barloworld Group, including the Barloworld Group transformational growth strategy which culminated in defining the 2026 Bold Ambition, she became an executive at the age of 28. She was also active in co-designing and introducing a new Group operating model which governs how the Group prioritises and executes issues and opportunities. She was recognised within the profession as one of SAICA’s Top 35 under 35 in 2021. Tlhabi is a highly motivated, dynamic professional, who strives to bring a different perspective to anything she works on, continuously challenging the status quo and striking for break-through growth.

Litha Nkombisa

Chief Sales Executive

Litha Carl Nkombisa is currently the Chief Sales Executive at Avis Budget Southern Africa. He has diverse business experience in banking, financial services, car rental & leasing, and the automotive industry, spanning over 31 years. He joined the Barloworld Group on 1 October 2007 when he was appointed Chief Executive of Barloworld Motor Retail and as one of the strategic black empowerment partners in Barloworld Ltd.’s 2008 BBBEE transaction. Since then, he has fulfilled various executive and board roles at Barloworld Automotive, Barloworld Logistics, Avis Fleet, Avis Budget Rent a Car, Salvage Management & Disposals and Barloworld South Africa. At Avis Fleet and Avis Car Rental, Litha has, for the past 17 years, been involved in major fleet and leasing contracts with corporate, government and state-owned enterprises.

Before joining Barloworld, Litha worked for several blue-chip companies, including Nedbank Corporate, BMW Finance in Munich – Germany, BMW Finance South Africa, Joburg City Auto BMW, and General Motors. He was formerly Head: BEE Portfolio with Nedbank Corporate. While at BMW Finance in Munich, Germany, he developed an intimate knowledge of the motor industry, having spent time in their International Marketing and International Risk divisions. His other experience includes a stint at BMW Finance South Africa as Risk Manager, at BMW as a Dealer Principal, and at General Motors, where he was responsible for Dealer Business Management & Dealer Development.

His accolades include being voted the top Corporate Banker in South Africa for 2002/3 by the Association of Black Securities & Investment Professionals (ABSIP).

He obtained his qualifications from the University of the Witwatersrand and the University of South Africa, including management and executive development programmes from the University of Stellenbosch Business School and Gordon Institute of Business Science.

Claudine Ebrahim

Executive: Car Sales

Claudine Ebrahim is the Executive for Car Sales at Avis Budget Southern Africa. At the age of 19, she joined the Avis Group and has since worked her way through the ranks, from being an administrator to embarking on a management trainee program that set the foundation for her path to leadership. With over 27 years of experience within Avis, she has successfully added value to the Car Sales, Coach Charter and Rental Operations business units.

Claudine has a dynamic and adaptive leadership style encompasses her extensive sales, operations, and general management experience. She is passionate about delivering strategic goals through high-performing and fully engaged teams.

Before being appointed Executive, she held the following positions: Regional Sales Manager, Regional Operations Manager and General Manager for Rental Operations North.

Claudine holds various strategic qualifications, including a certificate in Barloworld Leadership from the Gordon Institute of Business Science and a certificate in Management from Rhodes Business School.

Pulana Ngwasheng

Chief Information Officer (CIO)

Pulana has 21 years of experience in Information Technology, having worked in both the private and public sectors. She has vast experience in business analysis, strategy development and execution, digital transformation implementation, IT governance, and business process management.

Before joining Avis Budget Southern Africa in May 2022, she held several leadership roles in the public and private sectors. Pulana demonstrates exceptional interpersonal skills, analysis, and communication abilities, as well as a strong ability to translate corporate strategy into tangible, customer-focused solutions.

She holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Informatics and a master’s degree in information technology from the University of Pretoria. Additionally, she has obtained a Master of Philosophy (MPhil) degree specialising in Corporate Strategy from GIBS and a myriad of leadership qualifications from leading institutions in South Africa.

She is deeply committed to mentorship, seeing it as the foundation for nurturing future talent.

Mmabatho Tlale

Chief Human Capital Officer

An accomplished Human Capital professional with over 20 years of professional experience, Mmabatho excels in directing organisational planning and development through strategic initiatives and programs. Throughout her career, she has successfully managed talent selection practices, implemented process improvements, fostered employee development, remuneration and benefits and maintained positive employee relations. With her expertise, Mmabatho can translate business vision into Human Capital initiatives that drive performance, profitability, growth, and employee engagement.

She is pursuing a Masters in Labour Law, building upon her previous academic achievements, including a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree with completed Board Exams.

Chio Sakutukwa

Head of Legal

Chioneso Sakutukwa is a lawyer and Associate Chartered Company Secretary with over 15 years of experience in governance, legal, and regulatory compliance. Licensed to practice as a corporate governance official in 80 countries, including South Africa, Australia, China, Singapore, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Zimbabwe, England, and Ireland, Chio possesses a profound understanding of corporate governance principles and is highly proficient with the Companies Act.

Her expertise extends to stakeholder management, where she fosters positive relationships and ensures alignment amongst diverse interests. Before joining Zeda Limited, Chio held key roles, including Group Legal and Compliance at Peermont Global, Head of Legal at Goldrush Gaming Group, and Head of Corporate Statutory Services at RSM Africa.

Notable achievements, including an LLB from Rhodes University, a certification in Advanced Company Law from Witwatersrand University, and a certification in Business Management from GIBS, mark Chio’s educational journey. She holds the esteemed Associate Chartered Secretary (SA) designation from the Chartered Governance Institute of Southern Africa and is pursuing an LLM in Corporate Law from the University of Pretoria.

Itumeleng Ramoganyaka

Chief Risk Officer

Itumeleng has 24 years of experience in internal auditing, risk management, compliance and ethics.

Before joining Avis Budget Southern Africa, she spent 11 years with the Auditor General South Africa (AGSA). She was the Business Unit Leader of the Risk and Ethics Business and Senior Manager: Risk and Compliance. Itumeleng also held several roles in Jeffersons Wells International as the Engagement Profession – Internal Audit Practice and with Deloitte as Senior Manager in the Risk Advisory unit. Furthermore, her participation as a member and advisor to multiple governance structures has enabled her to fulfil strategic and business partnerships within her areas of expertise, thereby demonstrating business-added value to the organisation she serves.

Itumeleng is a Certified Internal Auditor with certifications in Quality Assurance, Risk Management Assurance, Control Self-Assessment, Certified Ethics Officer and a Qualification in Cost Management Accounting.

Andisiwe Nikelo

Executive: Commercial Leasing

Andisiwe Nikelo is the Executive for Commercial Leasing at Avis Budget Southern Africa. Andisiwe is a seasoned Banking Professional whose career spans 14 years in various specialist and generalist roles in the Financial Services industry. Having spent several years in executive roles, leading and managing commercial coverage teams with distribution and product businesses at regional and national levels, she has gained extensive experience in strategy development and implementation, stakeholder management, financial management, and risk and operations management. Before her current role, Andisiwe was the Managing Director of the ABSA Leasing and Fleet Card businesses.

Through her education, work, and a keen interest in economic development, she has acquired a passion for the role and impact of organisations in achieving exceptional results and growth, as well as a business and social agenda. Her passion for the economy and her country is evidenced by her fields of study, where she has obtained an Honours Degree specialising in Economics and a Masters in Business Administration from the Gordon Institute of Business Science.

Complimentary to her technical skills, Andisiwe’s communication and interpersonal skills have shaped her collaborative leadership style in effectively leading and motivating high-performing teams to support strategic and operational organisational objectives.

Babalwa George

Executive: Investor Relations and Corporate Affairs

Babalwa is a seasoned professional with over 19 years of experience in the telecommunication, media, and technology (TMT) sector. She has extensive experience in Investor Relations, Strategy, Corporate Finance, Corporate Communications, External Reporting and Stakeholder management.

Before joining Avis Budget Southern Africa, she held the Group Executive: Investor Relations role at Telkom for approximately seven years. Her primary focus was to appropriately and strategically positioned Telkom with analysts and investors and ensured that its investment case was well articulated and understood. She was the voice of the shareholders within the company regarding strategy, business performance, and governance. Over this period, she coached and introduced Senior management teams to the Capital Markets and worked on various M&A transactions.

Before joining Telkom, she worked for Vodacom Group. She acquired diverse experience in Financial Management & Business Planning, Corporate Finance, Strategy and Investor Relations. She served her articles outside public practice (TOPP) at Vodacom.

Babalwa holds a B Com degree from Rhodes University and a B Com Honours in Accounting degree from the University of KwaZulu Natal.

Werner van Niekerk

Executive: Sales Car Rental

Werner has reached an impressive milestone of 24 years with Avis. He has consistently demonstrated dedication, expertise, and a strong work ethic throughout his tenure. He holds a law degree from Free State University, greatly contributing to his success within our organisation.

Since joining Avis, he has held various positions within the Sales Segment, showcasing his versatility and adaptability. In addition to his extensive experience within the Sales Segment, he has completed the prestigious International Executive Development Program, further enhancing his skills and knowledge in the field.

His most recent role was that of GM Replacement and Corporate Inland. In this capacity, he played a pivotal role in driving growth, implementing strategic initiatives, and ensuring the highest level of service to our valued clients. Werner’s extensive experience and legal background have made him an invaluable asset to our team. His leadership, expertise, and commitment to excellence have consistently delivered outstanding results.