Gauteng City region academy

Meet the Acting CEO

Acting GCR Academy CEO, Ms Sindiswa Lingela is an astute strategist who rolls up her sleeves to ensure that work is done.

Born in Mpeko Village near Mthatha, Ms Lingela attended Kwazakhele High School in Port Elizabeth before enrolling for a Bachelor of Education (BA) degree majoring in English and isiXhosa at the University of Fort Hare in Alice. After her junior degree she completed a University Education Diploma (U ED) at the same institution. She studied Bachelor of  Education Education (B ED) majoring in Cooperative Education, Sociology Education, History of Education, Psychology of Education and Research Methodology at Rhodes University.

She then completed her Master Degree in Education (M ED) majoring in ``Educational Management and Leadership`` at the University of Durban-Westville, with six months spent at the University of South Carolina, Columbia, USA. The topic of her dissertation is ``External and internal barriers faced by black female high school and senior primary principals in the Eastern and Western Cape Region of the Department of Education and Training``.

She has occupied leadership roles in a variety of institutions as English Teacher, Chief Examiner, Head of Department: Official Languages, Principal, Circuit Manager (George/Knysna), Director: South Cape Karoo EMDC, Chief Director: Regional Services and Deputy Director- General: Institutional Development and Coordination in the Western Cape.

Prior to her appointment at the GCR Academy, Ms Lingela served as Deputy Director – General: Special Projects in Gauteng Department of Education.

On 1 March 2010 Ms Lingela was appointed Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Gauteng City Region Academy.

Ms Lingela has the necessary expertise, skills, knowledge and experience to strategically enable young people to make transitions from schools level to further education and/or work that provide training opportunities. Her key challenges include: 

• Improving the quality of management development for senior executives and massified training of junior and middle managers across GPG departments and municipalities; and
• Implementing Talent Pipeline strategy to unravel the pool of artisans and professionals to meet the demands of a growing economy through the education systems. 

She is a Fellow of the Institute of Admin Management and a member of the Stellenbosch University Council. She has five children whose ages range between 14 and 33.