Minister of Finance Neal Rijkenberg has congratulated newly-appointed Executive Secretary of the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) Dumisani Masilela, who has officially assumed his duties at the SACU Secretariat in Namibia.
Masilela began his new role on March 1, following his appointment to the position late last year.
Masilela is the former Commissioner General of the Eswatini Revenue Service (ERS) and most recently served as a technical assistance advisor at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington DC.
He emerged as the top candidate following a rigorous selection process and his return to the region has been met with widespread optimism, particularly given his strong track record in institutional transformation.
Rijkenberg expressed pride in Masilela’s rise to the regional stage, highlighting his journey from junior roles within the Ministry of Finance to a leading position in international financial management.
“He said it would be nice to work closer to home and so he agreed for us to submit his CV. We were very fortunate as a country that our candidate came out on top in the process.
“He is truly a son of the soil, having risen through the ranks in the Ministry of Finance, becoming principal secretary and later the first commissioner general of the Eswatini Revenue Service.
“He did much of the hard work in establishing discipline and left the institution in a strong position,” said Rijkenberg.
The minister noted that Masilela was taking on a significant leadership role in an organisation established in 1910, where national interests often intersect with regional priorities.
He acknowledged the political complexities involved, including ongoing debates among Member States over import tariffs and revenue-sharing formulas.
“The main mandate will be to keep SACU intact, to build a stronger SACU and to ensure it is prepared for global changes,” said Rijkenberg.
He added that trade had become increasingly complex and was often used as a tool in modern geopolitics.
With SACU now over a century old, Masilela’s key task will be to ensure the union remains resilient and relevant.
His expertise in customs, excise, and fiscal policy will be critical in strengthening trade cooperation and maintaining a fair and sustainable revenue-sharing system among Member States, namely Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia and South Africa.
Additional Context
The Southern African Customs Union (SACU) is the world’s oldest customs union and plays a critical role in regional trade, particularly through its revenue-sharing mechanism among member states.
