Thembani Bukula | CEO
POWERX

Thembani Bukula is the Chief Executive Officer of POWERX, South Africa’s licensed electricity trader, where he leads efforts to reshape the country's energy market through innovation, efficiency, and expanded access. With over 25 years of experience in the engineering and energy sectors, Thembani brings a wealth of expertise and a deep understanding of regulatory frameworks, utility operations, and power systems. He holds a BSc in Electrical Engineering from the University of Natal (now the University of KwaZulu-Natal), a Postgraduate Diploma in Engineering Business Management from Warwick University, and an MSc in Mathematics, Science and Technology Education from the University of South Africa (UNISA). He is a registered Professional Engineer (Pr Eng) and holds a Government Certificate of Competency for Factories (GCC). From 2005 to 2016, Thembani served as the Regulator Member responsible for electricity regulation at the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA), playing a pivotal role in shaping the country’s electricity regulatory environment. His previous leadership roles include Managing Director positions at the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) – Testing and Conformity Services, and Bytes Managed Services. Thembani began his career as a Design Engineer at Yelland Engineering, later moving into project engineering and transmission roles at M & E Design and Eskom, respectively. Today, he continues to champion a dynamic, inclusive, and sustainable energy future for South Africa.