Dr Khotso De Wee has been appointed as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development. Dr De Wee will render support to the Director-General in terms of departmental operations and implementation of strategy and policy.

Dr De Wee holds a PHD in Public Management, an M.ED, a B.ED and BA.ED. His extensive experience in the Public Service will no doubt stand him in good stead in his new role. In addition to serving as a teacher and tutor, Dr De Wee was Head of the National Department of Education’s Transformation Team during 1996 - 1998. His role was to lead and manage the organisational transformation process in the Department. Thereafter he served as Head and Accounting Officer of the Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport in the Free State Provincial Government.

Prior to his appointment as COO, Dr De Wee served first as Acting and then as Director-General in the Office of the Premier of the Free State , where he led numerous projects. These included the restructuring of the Department of the Premier and the development of the new Free State Development Plan.

Dr De Wee also has significant organisational experience, having served as, among others, Chairperson of the South African National Students Congress, Co-chairperson of the Urban Foundation’s Affirmative Action Task Team and Chairperson of the Free State Central Procurement Evaluation Committee. Dr De Wee has also made his mark in the field of research, for instance as Education Policy Researcher for the Urban Foundation. He also studied the operations of the Canadian civil service on behalf of the African National Congress, in preparation for transforming the South African civil service.

Dr De Wee is a past recipient of the Free State Provincial Legislature’s Floating Trophy for Best Department in Financial Management in the Free State Provincial Government. He was also rewarded by the Canada International Development Agency for the Most Valuable Contribution to the Provincial Twinning Arrangements between Canada and South Africa

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