NTIP fills key government post

The National Tooling Initiative Programme (NTIP) has appointed Brigadier General Deacon Mathe to the position of National Government Stakeholders Manager. General Mathe, a former head of the South African Air Force Reserves and chairperson of the MK Military Veterans' Association (MKMVA). He is naturally a social transformer, former trade unionist, community leader and former chairperson of National Youth Organisation, a predecessor to the South African Youth Congress.
General Mathe was an uMkhonto We Sizwe Military Commander from 1976 to 1990 and also spent time on Robben Island as a Political Prisoner for his active support and formation of MK underground structures of the, then banned ANC. As National Government Stakeholder Manager, General Mathe will be tasked with promoting the NTIP?s cause within the Government, the Department of Trade and Industry, and amongst others, the ruling party as a whole. He will also act as the link between the Government and the NTIP.
General Deacon Mathe is a graduate of the German School of Technology (DEULA) where he qualified in tool and die making. He is also a graduate from Witwatersrand Business School, where he attained an Advanced Business Management and Public Administration qualification.
General Mathe?s qualifications makes him an ideal candidate to fulfil the role of National Government Stakeholders Manager. Apart from a general business management and administration understanding this role requires a fundamental knowledge of the manufacturing industry and in particular the making of jigs, fixtures, dies, moulds, machine tools, cutting tools, gauges, and other tools used in manufacturing processes.
Dirk van Dyk, NTIP?s CEO said that he was delighted to have a professional of Mathe's calibre join the programme, and that he looked forward to tapping into Mathe?s extensive government and private sector experience. In his previous role as the first president of the South African National Military Veterans Association, and also Chairperson of the MK Veterans Association, Mathe advised the Ministry of Defence, as well as the Ministry of Environmental Affairs and Tourism.
He currently serves as an executive chairman of MWB Group (a Renewable Energy and Lighting Management Solution company) and non - executive director of Matuba Holdings a substantial BEE group of Tjate Platinum, a mining company that is in partnership with Jubilee Platinum, a JSE and LSE listed company.