Mr Stanley Matsebula was Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) & Managing Director of Swaziland Savings and Development Bank (Swazibank) since 2000.

As CEO/ MD of Swazibank, he held executive control of the bank, and oversaw that strategic and operational plans were implemented timeously, while closely monitoring the operations (inclusive of projects) of the bank.

At Swazi bank, Mr Matsebula was faced with the daunting task to turn around the institution which was on the verge of closure. Non-performing loans were in excess of 80% of total loan portfolio. Bank had run out of cash and no longer meeting regulatory requirements. Another challenge was to ensure that both development and commercial mandates of the bank were successfully carried out.

The bank was established in 1965 to finance development projects and, at the same time, operates as a commercial entity. The bank has accumulated assets worth SZL1.7billion to date from SZL300m in 2000 despite not receiving Government funding since 2003.

The bank boasts the largest number of customer base (130000) in the industry and Mr Matsebula attributed this to the innovation and ability to tailor make products to suit the diverse needs of customers. Leadership and teamwork were also critical ingredients. Net deposits have grown from SZL 143m to over SZL1billion to date.

The Bank has won many awards under his stewardship, and he also personally won the PMR South Africa Magazine Diamond Arrow Award (Most Admired Business person in Swaziland) for 2008 and 2009. In 2012 he was voted the world’s “Best Manager of the Year” by European Business Assembly, Dublin.

Prior to joining Swazibank in 2000, Mr Matsebula worked for the Free State Government in the Department of Environmental Affairs, Tourism & Conservation as    Department Head (1997-2000) and Gauteng Government as Chief Director of Economic Affairs (Chief Economist) (1995-1997), where he was responsible for promoting economic development in Gauteng through the formulation of proper industrial, commercial and SMME policies.

He also worked as Programme Manager (Financial Programme Leader) at the Development Bank of Southern Africa (1990-1995), where his main tasks were to analyse and advise the bank and consumers on capacity of customer’s budgets to absorb development loans from the bank.

He began his professional career at the Swaziland Central Bank as Assistant Research Manager.

He held a Master of Arts Degree in Applied Economics (Majoring in money and banking) from the American University, Washington D.C, and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in social science (Majors: Economics and statistics) from the University of Swaziland, and had professional training in banking and finance and has been involved in a wide range of public service activities.

He has served on several Boards in South Africa and Swaziland, including the Chairmanship of the Association of African Development Finance Institutions (AADFI). He was a member of the Business and Economic advisory Panel to His Majesty King Mswati 111 and the Government of Swaziland (BEAP) (2005-2008).

Mr Matsebula was a founding member of the Board of Trustees of the DFRC, and played an important role in the development of SADC DFI Network by providing leadership and guidance to the development of its programme, as well as personal involvement and participation in some of them. These included programmes such as Corporate Governance, Prudential Standards and Guidelines and the many CEOs Fora.

He was also committed to building capacity of the Swazibank and the DFI Network in general by initiating and collaborating with the DFRC on country-based and institutional capacity building programmes to raise the technical and managerial capacity of his staff and that of other DFIs through exposure to technical expertise, and sharing of knowledge and experience with similar institutions.

The SADC DFI Network and  the DFRC management and staff pay tribute to a committed business leader and a solid partner in the enhancement of development finance in the region. He has been a reliable and dependable partner in our efforts to raise the human skills levels of DFI staff, expand the operational capabilities of the institutions, extend the frontiers of development and promote regional integration in SADC.

Mr Matsebula passed away on 11th January 2013 at Milpark Hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa.

May his soul rest in peace.