REFILWE MAFOLO: DRIVING FINANCIAL EXCELLENCE THROUGH ACCOUNTABILITY AND GOOD GOVERNANCE

By Busisa Makhathini

• The Department of Social Development has welcomed a new Chief Director: Financial Management and Administration.
• Overseeing the Financial Administration and Supply Chain Management Directorate, Refilwe Mafolo will provide leadership on financial reporting, governance, compliance, and administrative financial management.
• With almost a quarter century of experience behind her, Mafolo champions collaboration, accountability and good governance.

Since joining the Department of Social Development as Chief Director: Financial Management and Administration at the beginning of May 2026, Refilwe Mafolo has been instrumental in strengthening the department’s financial governance and promoting sound financial management practices that support effective service delivery.

Before joining the department, Mafolo served as the Chief Financial Officer at the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies, where she provided strategic leadership across key financial management functions, including budgeting, supply chain management, procurement, asset management and financial governance.

With almost 25 years of experience in financial administration, financial accounting and public sector financial management, Mafolo brings a wealth of expertise and strategic leadership to the department.

In her current role, she oversees the Financial Administration and Supply Chain Management Directorate, providing leadership on financial reporting, governance, compliance, and administrative financial management.

One of her key priorities since joining the department has been to understand the department’s relationship with the South African Social Security Agency to improve the financial reporting processes for some items relating to the department’s financial control, increasing supply chain process compliance, and facilitating good financial management that ensures successful service delivery.

A firm believer in continuous improvement, Mafolo champions collaboration, accountability, and good governance across the department. She believes that while public institutions must remain financially accountable, they should also deliver measurable and meaningful outcomes that improve the lives of South Africans.

Her message to colleagues is clear: remain committed to excellence in service delivery and ensure that every action taken contributes to advancing the department’s mandate of serving the people of South Africa.