The Board of Directors

The governing structure of the OBS consists of a Board of Directors, comprised four independent, non-bankers, three representatives of the banks and an independent chairperson. The function of the Board is to ensure that the OBS is financially sound, to take decisions on how the OBS is to be financed and to consider the annual budget. The Board ensures the independence of the OBS, through the appointment of the OBS or acting OBS, the dismissal of the OBS, the approval of changes to the Terms of Reference, considering the Annual Report and to making recommendations to the Banking Association South Africa on changes to the Code of Banking Practice.

Directors on the Board of the OBS

Independent chairperson

Advocate John Myburgh SC (Profile)

Consumer/civil society/business representatives

Diane Terblanche
National Consumer Tribunal

Lesiba Jacob Mathekga
Business Development Director at NMG Consultants & Actuaries

Tanya Venter
CEO OF Tokiso Dispute Settlement (PTY) Ltd

Tefo Raditapole
Partner of Cheadle Thompson and Haysom attorneys, dispute resolution expert

Banking industry representatives

Bob Tucker
Standard Bank

Cas Coovadia (Profile)
Managing Director of the Banking Association, SA

Ina Steyn
ABSA General Manager: Group Customer Experience

Nicky Lala Mohan
General Manager - Banking Association SA

The Ombudsman

CLIVE PILLAY was appointed to the position of Ombudsman for Banking Services in May 2007. He is a lawyer by training and was admitted to practice in 1976. He holds 4 law degrees including two Masters' degrees; one in Constitutional Law and one in International Law, respectively. He also holds Post Graduate Diplomas in Advanced Banking Law, Alternative Dispute Resolution (cum laude) and Compliance Management (cum laude).

During the period of 1999 to 2001, he served as a Judge of the High Court of South Africa on numerous occasions. He has been to America as an exchange student on a Comparative Law Program. He has lectured at the University of Port Elizabeth and the Law Society's School for Legal Practice. During September 2005 he addressed a United nations Office on Drugs and Crime Seminar in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

In 2008 he received the African Bankers prestigious "Banking Adjudicator of the year" award for facilitating effective dispute resolution for the South African banking public and for promoting banking industry professionalism. In October 2009 he attended the World Bank and International Monetary Fund general meetings in Istanbul, Turkey as an accredited representative.

In August 2010 he received the prestigious International Star Quality Award in the Gold category in recognition of his efforts in promoting high standards in the workplace through excellence and innovation.