Volkswagen Group Africa (VWGA) has appointed Yolanda Cuba as a non-executive director on their Board of Management.
Effective from June 1, 2024, Cuba also serves as the Vice President for the Southern and East Africa regions at the MTN Group.
With over 20 years of experience in various African markets and across multiple industries, including telecommunications, manufacturing, and investment, she brings a wealth of knowledge to the board.
A chartered accountant by profession, Cuba holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Statistics from the University of Cape Town, a Bachelor of Commerce Honours degree in Accounting from the University of Natal, and a Masters in Commerce degree from the University of Pretoria.
“We welcome Yolanda to the Board of Management, and we look forward to benefiting from her experience gained from working in different industries and African markets,” said Martina Biene, VWGA Chairperson and Managing Director.
“I have no doubt she will bring fresh impetus and a new voice to our Board.”
Also read: Volkswagen’s Kariega Plant To Be Powered By 5.6 MWp of Solar Energy Valued At R100 Million
Recognising the effect of fossil fuels on global climate change, VWGA is striving to minimise its dependence on these energy sources. As the nation celebrates Energy Month in May, VWGA highlights its commitment to become carbon neutral in vehicle and component production by 2030 through its Zero Impact Factory initiatives.
To this end, significant investments totalling up to R100 million have been made in recent years to transition to renewable energy. By the end of this year a total of 5.6 MWp of solar energy will be powering Volkswagen’s manufacturing plant in Kariega.
The installation of 3 MWp Solar Photovoltaic (PV) panels in the employee car park at the Kariega plant is currently commissioned and is expected to be operational by September 2024. The latest installation complements the existing 2.6 MWp of rooftop PV panels in the vehicle assembly plant and the 163 kWp at the component manufacturing plant.
South Africa’s largest exporter of passenger cars is following a global trend. According to the World Economic Forum the world added 50% more renewable capacity last year compared to 2022. The world’s capacity to generate renewable electricity is expanding faster than at any time in the last three decades, giving it a real chance of achieving the goal of tripling global capacity by 2030, the International Energy Agency reported.
