Lindiwe Mbongwe is a BCom accounting graduate, and has also acquired a master’s degree in the built environment from Wits University.

She has served on numerous boards of both listed and unlisted entities, such as the National Brands, a subsidiary of Anglo Vaal Industries (AVI); and NGO known as COPESSA, an organisation that assists with prevention of abuse to women and children; Peulwana, an organisation that lends funds to merging farmers;  and Nozala Investments, to name but a few. She has also served on sub-committees, like the audit and investment committee. She is a director of First Mayibue as well as a member of the Investment Committee.

Mbongwe possesses vast experience in dealing with the lower end of the market, having been involved with empowerment organisations, where methods of ensuring that the unbanked are converted to the formal banking sector. This was done through providing skills training and general business development to the previously disadvantaged individuals.

She spent almost three decades in the banking industry with positions varying from research, product development, heading retail banking, home loans and financing for property development, as well as micro lending. This experience was acquired from working in senior positions at the following institutions:  Permanent Building Society (Perm), Futurebank, African Bank, People’s Bank, Nedbank and Eskom to name a few.

She is the founder and sole director of Cape Gannet Properties which has been in existence since 2007, and is also a qualified estate agent.

Mbongwe also has knowledge in other industries, such as energy, having worked at Eskom, and was part of the team that developed the first electric vehicle (1996).