Msukaligwa Municipality appoints Desmond Maake as Director of Planning and Economic Development

Msukaligwa Municipality has recently appointed Mr Desmond Maake as the Director for Planning and Economic Development.

The appointment is in terms of Section 56 of the Municipal Systems Act (Act 32 of 2000) as amended, on a four-year fixed term contract of employment, which is performance based.

He was appointed after a meticulous selection process by the municipality and Mr Maake began his term at the municipality on Wednesday, 2 January.

The Executive Mayor of Msukaligwa, Mr Joseph Mkhaliphi and the Municipal Manager, Ms Gladness Majola, welcomed Mr Maake on behalf of the council and the administration and wished him all the best.

Mr Desmond Maake is a qualified Urban and Regional Planner, who obtained a four-year bachelors degree from the University of Venda, and is a registered Professional Planner in terms of the Planning Profession Act (Act 36 of 2002) with the South African Council for Planners.

He is a final year student studying a Masters in Town and Regional Planning at the University of Pretoria.

He holds a certificate in Municipal Finance Management and has successfully completed certificates in Geographic Information System and Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act Guidelines for Spatial Development Frameworks at the University of Venda.

Mr Maake has vast experience having worked as a Town and Regional Planner at Makhado Local Municipality and as an Assistant Director Planning and Human Settlements.

He also worked at the National Department of Public Works under the Immovable Asset Register Management Section Unit.

Mr Maake’s competencies, among others, are spatial planning, land use management, environmental management, integrated development planning, geographic information systems, human settlements, urban design and local economic development.