PROFILE OF THE HOD
Phucuka Penelope Penxa has officially been appointed as the Head of the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure.
From the Caba location in Tsomo Ms Penxa is an experienced public servant with over 20 years of senior management experience and 11 years of that at Chief Director Level. Before joining DPWI as an Accounting Officer on 01 April 2025, she was Regional Manager for the National Department of Public Works and Infrastructure – Cape Town Region.
Her career began in the Insurance Industry as an underwriter, a year before joining the National Department of Public Works, Cape Town Office, as an administration officer. This is where she cut her teeth into revenue management. Very early in her career at the Regional Office, the Tsomo born Penxa was also responsible for the disposal of state-owned properties and sooner she assumed the role of being the Director Operational Property Management. Her responsibilities included managing about 2000 leases for residential, commercial and parking portfolio for the Western Cape Department of Transport and Public Works.
Penxa who has Masters in Public Management and Law (Regional Economics), as well as Masters of Science in Property Studies from the University of Cape Town, is familiar with Qhasana Building (Head Office) as she once served as the Chief Director of Immovable Asset Management before assuming the second highest office, that of being the Chief Operations Officer of the Department.
Ms Penxa’s expertise spans property management, infrastructure planning, and policy development, key focus areas that will drive the Department’s strategic objectives.
Her appointment marks a very significant moment for the Department as it reinforces the commitment of the Provincial Government to make it the “nerve center of infrastructure roll-out”. One of the Provincial Government’s priority is to build an Office Precinct for all provincial government Departments, a responsibility the new incumbent is very familiar with. It was during her tenure as COO when Ms Penxa’s team resuscitated the development of the Bhisho Office Precinct. She was at the helm when the concept received approvals from National Treasury up to stage 2 (b) (tender stage).
Her leadership skills have seen Ms Penxa champion initiatives that modernized departmental operations, strengthened financial sustainability, and enhanced service delivery. Her contributions to policy development, infrastructure planning, and asset management will be instrumental in advancing the Department’s mandate.
MEC Siphokazi Lusithi extended best wishes to Ms Penxa as she assumes her new responsibilities to lead Public Works and Infrastructure to greater heights.
MEC Lusithi said: “I am delighted to welcome Ms Phucuka Penelope Penxa as the new Head of the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure. Her appointment comes at a pivotal time when the Department is focused on accelerating infrastructure delivery, strengthening governance, and ensuring that public assets are managed efficiently for the benefit of our people. Ms. Penxa’s wealth of experience and proven leadership make her well-suited to drive our mandate forward.”