The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) has appointed Nomfundo Maseti as acting CEO. She replaces Nomalanga Sithole, whose extended term ended on 24 October.
Electricity and Energy Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa made the appointment, which took effect on 25 October 2026. Maseti will hold the post until a permanent CEO is appointed. She joined Nersa as a full-time regulator member in December 2025 on a five-year term, and her main responsibility has been regulating piped gas.
Both of Nersa’s top posts are now held in an acting capacity. Ria Govender has been acting chairperson since mid-June, when Thembani Bukula resigned for health reasons. Nersa called for nominations for a permanent CEO in June but has yet to name a candidate.
| Post | Holder | Status |
|---|---|---|
| CEO | Nomfundo Maseti | Acting from 25 October 2026 |
| Previous CEO | Nomalanga Sithole | Term ended 24 October 2026 |
| Chairperson | Ria Govender | Acting since 15 June 2026 |
| Previous chairperson | Thembani Bukula | Resigned June 2026 |
| Permanent CEO | Not yet named | Nominations called June 2026 |
Govender has spent more than 29 years in electricity policy, law and regulation. She said Maseti’s experience would help keep the regulator stable during the transition. Nersa thanked Sithole, who had led it since August 2021 on what was initially a five-year contract.
Sithole leaves after a difficult period for the regulator. In January 2025, Nersa issued a three-year tariff determination for Eskom. The utility later found errors in the calculation, which Nersa acknowledged and apologised for in September 2025. The two parties then agreed a private settlement worth about R54bn.
AfriForum challenged the deal, and in December 2025 the Pretoria High Court rejected it. The court ordered Nersa to reassess Eskom’s allowable revenue and consult the public. In February 2026, Nersa allowed Eskom to recover R54.7bn over three years, with annual tariff increases of up to 8.3% until the 2028 financial year. The original determination had set increases of 5.4% for 2026/27 and 6.2% for 2027/28. About R12bn is being recovered this year.
The Energy Intensive Users Group, whose members consume about 40% of South Africa’s electricity, says prices have risen eightfold since 2008.
Maseti’s background in gas regulation comes as the sector rises up the policy agenda. Ramokgopa is due to brief the media on 28 October on the Gas Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme, which sets out the government’s plans for gas-to-power generation. Supply is a growing concern, as output is declining at Mozambique’s mature fields, which supply Sasol’s Secunda complex through the ROMPCO pipeline.
Mozambique’s state oil and gas company, ENH, is reportedly negotiating a project worth about $250m (about R4.1bn) to supply more gas to South Africa. The plan includes floating storage and regasification units at Inhassoro and the port of Beira, and a 140km pipeline linking to ROMPCO. It is targeted for 2030 or 2031.
Nersa licenses operators and sets tariffs in the electricity, piped gas and petroleum pipeline industries. It must oversee Eskom’s revised tariff path and new gas infrastructure, while the Electricity Regulation Amendment Act opens the power market to competition. It will do all of this while its two most senior posts remain filled on an acting basis.