BHISHO- Eastern Cape Rural Development Agency (ECRDA) Chief Executive Officer(CEO) Simpiwe Somdyala is set to leave the provincial development agency next month after resigning to pursue new professional opportunities.
Somdyala’s last working day will be 23rd October, according to a statement issued by the ECRDA board on Thursday.
Somdyala joined the agency in January 2025 and leaves after less than two years at the helm of the organisation responsible for supporting rural and agricultural development in the Eastern Cape.
The ECRDA board said his tenure had been marked by a stronger focus on implementation, support for rural farmers and enterprises, institutional performance and the agency’s public profile.
It also credited his leadership with helping the agency strengthen strategic partnerships and secure additional funding for rural development initiatives across the province.
One of the notable developments during his tenure was an improvement in the agency’s audit outcome, with ECRDA moving from a qualified to an unqualified audit opinion.
The board said the improvement reflected the collective efforts of its board, management and employees to strengthen governance, financial management and institutional performance.
ECRDA Board Chairperson Phumzile Zitumane thanked Somdyala for his contribution and said the board would ensure a smooth leadership transition.
“On behalf of the ECRDA Board, I thank Mr Somdyala for his leadership, commitment and service to the Agency,” Zitumane said.
Somdyala said serving the agency and rural communities had been a privilege. “While I am leaving my role as CEO, my commitment to the development of the Eastern Cape remains unchanged,” he said.
Furthermore, the board said measures had been put in place to ensure continuity and that ECRDA programmes and services would continue during the leadership transition.
An acting chief executive will be announced before a permanent replacement is appointed, the board said. ECRDA works with rural communities, farmers, businesses, government and development partners to promote what it describes as inclusive and sustainable rural economic development in the province.
Courtesy of IMAGE: ECRDA
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