Avis Southern Africa Executive Team

Chief Executive

Ramasela is the Chief Executive of Avis Budget Southern Africa, at the helm of all car rental and leasing operations in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The accomplished leader brings extensive experience acquired from a number of 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, as well as being appointed Executive Head of Business Services. 

Ramasela is a qualified chartered accountant with a B.Com (Hons. & CTA) from the University of Pretoria. With 22 years of strategic and financial experience, she is a distinguished professional.

She prides herself with several awards won throughout her career which include, the 2022 Advancement of Black Accountants of Southern Africa (ABASA) Private Sector CEO of the year, 2017 Public Sector CFO of the year, awarded by CFO SA,  2016 CFO of the year, awarded by The Association Black Securities and Investment Professionals (ABSIP), 2016 Public Sector CFO of the year awarded by African Women Chartered Accountants. 

Women empowerment is close to her heart as 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.

Financial Director

Thobeka is the Financial Director at Avis Budget Southern Africa and has over 15 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 completed her articles with Sasol Chemical Industries. She joined the Barloworld Group 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 audit committee member of the Robben Island Museum, a position she held from 2013 to 2019.

Chief Operations Officer

Tlhabi 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, an opportunity which saw her working in Barloworld Corporate Office, Barloworld Equipment, Barloworld Internal Audit Services as well as 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 a number of 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 issues and opportunities are prioritised and executed within the Group. 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 in anything she works on, continuously challenging the status quo and striking for break-through growth.

Chief Sales Executive

Litha is currently the Chief Sales Executive at Avis Budget Southern Africa. He has diverse business experience, spanning over 27 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 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 at Barloworld South Africa. 

Prior to joining Barloworld, Litha worked for a number of blue-chip companies including, BMW Finance in Munich, Germany, in their International Marketing and International Risk divisions as well as a Risk Manager at BMW Finance South Africa, BMW as a Dealer Principal, General Motors, responsible for Dealer Business Management & Dealer Development as well as Nedbank Corporate as the Head of the BEE Portfolio.

Some of his accolades include being voted as 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 University of South Africa, including management and executive development programmes from the University of Stellenbosch Business School and Gordon Institute of Business Science.

Executive: Car Rental Operations

Rebone is an Industrial Engineering graduate (ECSA member) is the
Executive responsible for the Car Rental Operations in Southern Africa. He is a recipient of both the Barloworld Leadership Development Programme (LDP) and the Executive Development Programme (EDP) Certificates from the Gordons Institute of Business Science (GIBS) and brings a wealth of experience to the Leadership collective.

After several years in the public sector, Rebone joined Barloworld in 2008 and
performed a number of roles within the various Barloworld group of companies. This culminated in him joining Avis Budget Southern Africa in 2016 as the Executive responsible for Commercial, which included the Rent a Car operations in the greater Africa Countries, the Truck Rental division, the Avis Van Rental network as well as the Driven Services (Chauffeur Drive and Point to Point) and Avis Luxury cars.

Rebone is also a member of the Institute of Directors in Southern Africa (IODSA) and serves on several boards within the business. Rebone’s drive is to continuously grow and adapt into a World Class, Global Business Leader able to meet and exceed the current and future needs of rapidly growing organisations in the constantly changing business world.

Executive: Car Sales

Claudine is the Executive for Car Sales. 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 25 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 that encompasses her
extensive sales, operations and general management experience and is passionate about delivering strategic goals through high performing and fully engaged teams.

Prior to her appointment as Executive, she has 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 Gordon Institute of Business Science as well as a certificate in Management from Rhodes Business School.

Chief Information Officer (CIO)

Pulana has a wealth of experience in the field of Information Technology, having worked in both the private and public sectors. She possesses vast knowledge and experience in the areas of business analysis, strategy development and execution, digital transformation implementation, IT governance, and business process management.

Pulana demonstrates exceptional abilities in interpersonal skills, analysis, and communication with 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, as well as 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.

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

Head of Legal

Chio 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 excels in fostering positive relationships and ensuring alignment amongst diverse interests. Before joining Avis Southern Africa, 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.

Chio's educational journey is marked by 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. She holds the esteemed Associate Chartered Secretary (SA) designation from the Chartered Governance Institute of Southern Africa and is currently pursuing an LLM in Corporate Law from the University of Pretoria.

Chief Risk Officer

Itumeleng has 18 years’ experience in internal auditing and risk management, with senior management experience of over 10 years. 
Prior to joining Avis Budget Southern Africa, she spent 11 years with the Auditor General South Africa (AGSA) and occupied the role of 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. 

Furthermore, her participation as a member and/or advisor to multiple governance structures has enabled her to fulfil strategic and business partnership within her areas of expertise, thereby demonstrating business value add to the organisation she serves.

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

Executive: Commercial Leasing

Andisiwe is the Executive for Commercial Leasing at Avis Budget Southern Africa. Andisiwe is a seasoned Banking Professional whose career spans 12 years within the Financial Services industry in various specialist and generalist roles. Having spent several years in executive roles, leading and managing Commercial Coverage teams together with Distribution and Product Businesses at both a Regional and National level, she has gained extensive experience in Strategy Development and Implementation; Stakeholder Management; Financial Management and Risk and Operations Management. Prior to her current role, Andisiwe was the Managing Director for the ABSA Leasing and Fleet Card Businesses.

Through her education, work and keen interest in economic development she has acquired a passion for the role and impact of organisations in achieving exceptional results and growth, as both 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

Executive: Investor Relations and Corporate Affairs

Babalwa is a seasoned professional with more than 16 years in the Telecommunication, Media, and Technology (TMT) sector. She has extensive corporate experience in Investor Relations, Strategy, Corporate Finance, M&A, External Reporting and Stakeholder management.

Prior to joining Avis Budget Southern Africa, she held the role of Group Executive: Investor Relations at Telkom for approximately 7 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 a voice of a shareholder within the company regarding the 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.

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

Executive: Sales Car Rental

Werner has reached an impressive milestone of 23 years with Avis. Throughout his tenure, he has consistently demonstrated dedication, expertise, and a strong work ethic. 

Since joining Avis, he has held various positions within the Sales Segment, showcasing his versatility and adaptability. He also held the position of GM: Replacement and Corporate Inland. In this capacity, he played a pivotal role in driving growth, implementing strategic initiatives and ensure the highest level of service to our valuable clients.

Werner's extensive experience, combined with his legal background, has made him an invaluable asset to our organisation. His leadership, expertise, and commitment to excellence have consistently delivered outstanding results.

He holds a law degree from Free State University and has successfully completed an International Executive Development Program.