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

Consumer/civil society/business representatives

Ina Wilken
Chairperson: South African National Consumer Union, DTI consumer champion 2005

Dr Malesela Motlatla
Businessman, involved on various boards, including UNISA

Nomonde Mapetla
Chairperson:Estate Agency Affairs Board

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

Banking industry representatives

Cas Coovadia
Managing Director of the Banking Association, SA

Venete Klein
Executive Director ABSA

Alfred Ramosedi (Profile)
Divisional Director for Nedbank Limited

The Ombudsman

Advocate Clive Pillay has been appointed as the Ombudsman for Banking Services from the 2nd May 2007. Pillay holds the degrees of B Proc, LL B, and LL M (Constitutional Interpretation) and LL M (International Law), from the University of South Africa and the University of Johannesburg.

Pillay was admitted to practice in 1976 and was the senior partner in the Law Firm Pillay, Meyer and Boqwana. During the period 1999 to 2001, Pillay served as a Judge of the High Court on numerous occasions. In 2004 he ceased practice and joined the National Prosecuting Authority as a Deputy Director (Asset Forfeiture Unit), and in 2006 was appointed the acting Regional head for Gauteng.

Pillay has lectured at the University of Port Elizabeth and the School for Legal Practice.

He is a founder member / member of various Civil Society / Human Rights Organisations, inter alia,

Lawyers for Human Rights

National Association of Democratic Lawyers

The Port Elizabeth Black Civic Association

Chairman of Malabar Ratepayers Association

Chairman of the Anti-Tricameral Parliament Election Committee

Board of Control member of the University of Port Elizabeth

Exchange student to America on the Comparative Law Programme

Addressed a United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Seminar in Addis Abba, Ethiopia, during September 2005