Mendi Sigenu

Highly accountable and people-focused Risk Manager with a strong record in designing, implementing, and evaluating integrated enterprise risk management frameworks. Skilled in identifying, assessing, and mitigating operational, compliance, and organisational risks across office and field environments. Demonstrates strong analytical and problem-solving abilities to enhance organisational resilience, strengthen safety and risk-aware cultures, and drive continuous improvement in governance, incident prevention, and emergency preparedness.

RISK MANAGER at SOL PLAATJE MUNICIPALITY (2016-07 – Present)

Strategically lead the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of the Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) Framework to strengthen organisational governance, legislative compliance, and sustainable service delivery. Provide expert advisory support to senior leadership, Council committees, and oversight structures to embed risk-informed decision-making across all municipal operations. Collaborate closely with the Municipal Manager to enhance organisational resilience, emergency preparedness, and continuity of critical municipal services.

Drive institution-wide risk awareness programmes to ensure that risk culture, accountability, and preventative controls are understood and integrated by all employees.

• Ensure compliance with PFMA/MFMA risk management prescripts by coordinating annual risk assessments, updating municipal risk profiles, and advising on control deficiencies requiring executive attention.
• Oversee the development, maintenance, and digitalisation of enterprise-wide risk management systems, ensuring accurate capturing, tracking, and reporting of operational, strategic, project, and fraud risks.
• Provide strategic leadership in the establishment and integration of an Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) framework aligned to MFMA, OHSA, NEMA, Disaster Management Act, and National Treasury requirements.
• Lead cross-functional risk coordination processes with Internal Audit, Compliance, Performance Management, SCM, Legal, Disaster Management, and Security Services to ensure integrated assurance and alignment of risk activities.
• Develop municipal-wide risk mitigation plans and monitor directorate-level implementation, escalating high-risk exposures and emerging threats to executive leadership for timely decisions
• Conduct scenario planning and risk modelling to anticipate future vulnerabilities, service delivery disruptions, and external environment changes impacting municipal operations.
• Drive risk-based decision-making in service delivery units, ensuring operational plans, projects, and procurement processes incorporate adequate controls and risk considerations.
• Monitor legislative, regulatory, and policy changes and advise management on implications for municipal risk exposure and required compliance modifications.
• Lead investigations into high-risk incidents, system failures, near misses, and non-compliance, providing corrective action recommendations and tracking their implementation.
• Promote ethical conduct and anti-fraud culture by supporting fraud prevention strategies, whistle-blower protection processes, and irregular/expenditure risk assessments.
• Facilitate capacity-building programmes for senior management, councillors, and staff on enterprise risk management, governance, and compliance responsibilities.
• Coordinate external assurance engagements with AGSA, Provincial Treasury, COGTA, and other regulatory bodies, ensuring the municipality meets audit expectations and improves audit outcomes.
• Oversee the integration of climate-change, environmental, and disaster risk considerations into municipal planning, infrastructure development, and community protection strategies.
• Develop risk performance metrics and dashboards to provide real-time insights on institutional risk trends, control effectiveness, and risk maturity progression.
• Strengthen stakeholder confidence by promoting transparent risk communication, community risk awareness programmes, and public accountability mechanisms.
• Facilitate governance oversight by developing and presenting risk intelligence reports to the Municipal Manager, Audit Committee, Risk Committee, and Council structures.
• Strengthen accountability and control environments through the development of risk appetites, monitoring indicators, risk registers, and internal control enhancements.
• Champion a culture of compliance and risk maturity, driving institutional capacity-building, stakeholder engagement, and risk awareness initiatives across all directorates.
• Direct the design and implementation of emergency response, disaster preparedness, and business continuity planning to safeguard municipal operations and communities.
• Support strategic planning by integrating risk insights into IDP, SDBIP, performance management, and budget prioritisation processes.
• Provide expert policy advice and contribute to the review and approval of safety, security, and risk policies, standards, and guidelines to enforce legal and regulatory compliance.
• Proactively leads the municipality’s risk management function by conducting comprehensive threat and risk assessments to evaluate the adequacy of existing safety and security controls.
• Identifies occupational hazards, key risk events, and potential loss scenarios to ensure preventative and corrective measures are both effective and aligned with legislative and organisational requirements.
• Executes risk-based assurance audits targeted at high-risk operations and critical controls, fostering a forward-looking approach that reduces exposure and strengthens operational resilience.
• Drives continuous improvement by systematically monitoring emerging risks, recommending mitigation strategies, and ensuring risk owners remain accountable for implementation and compliance.
• Continuously evaluate municipality emergency response processes;
• Identify and assess vulnerabilities within communities to strengthen resilience;
• Liaise with municipal Directorates and external role-players to coordinate response and recovery;
• Disseminate Information on challenges and present educational awareness regarding disasters.
• Proactively engages and collaborates with Executive Management, Operational Leaders, and key internal and external stakeholders to ensure a shared understanding of organisational risks across health, safety, and security domains.
• Provides strategic, data-driven insights and specialist guidance to influence decision-making, strengthen compliance, and enhance organisational resilience.
• Leads transparent risk communication processes by ensuring that critical decisions, corrective actions, and safety enhancements are clearly conveyed to contractors, managers, and relevant stakeholders.
• Drives a culture of accountability by ensuring that risk issues are addressed promptly and mitigation strategies are implemented effectively to safeguard people, assets, and municipal service delivery outcomes.
• Develop, analyse, and present comprehensive reports on the implementation and performance of health, safety, and security plans, ensuring risk exposure, compliance status, and progress updates remain highly visible to senior and executive leadership.
• Conduct regular performance evaluations and results analysis to support informed decision-making, continuous improvement in safety and security governance, and provide insights on emerging risks, key incidents, and the effectiveness of mitigation controls.
• Track and report performance against risk tolerance thresholds, legal requirements, and organisational objectives to assure effective oversight and accountability.

SENIOR MARINE INSPECTOR at DEPT OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY &FISHERIES (2010-07 – 2016-06)

REASON FOR LEAVING: Career Advancement

• Conduct advanced inspections of vessels, port operations, and marine equipment to ensure compliance with maritime laws, safety standards, and environmental regulations.
• Lead incident investigations, assess risks, and recommend corrective actions to prevent recurrence.
• Oversee the certification and auditing of marine safety management systems, including seaworthiness, cargo handling, and pollution prevention controls.
• Provide expert guidance to junior inspectors, crew, and stakeholders on regulatory requirements and best practices.
• Prepare detailed inspection reports, maintain regulatory documentation, and liaise with port authorities, shipping companies, and government agencies to uphold maritime safety and compliance.

CONSTABLE INVESTIGATORINSPECTOR at KABEGA PARK SAPS (2007-08 – 2010-06)

REASON FOR LEAVING: Career Advancement

• Conduct thorough investigations by gathering, analysing, and evaluating evidence.
• Interview witnesses, stakeholders, and involved parties to collect accurate information.
• Prepare detailed, factual reports with findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
• Ensure compliance with legal, regulatory, and organizational policies and standards.
• Support risk mitigation and decision-making through evidence-based insights.

MASTER’S DEGREE in DISASTER MANAGEMENT – University of Free State (2021)

POSTGRADUATE DIPLOMA in SECURITY MANAGEMENT – University of South Africa (2020)

POSTGRADUATE DIPLOMA in DISASTER MANAGEMENT – University of Free State (2020)

BACCALAUREUS TECHNOLOGIAE (BTECH) in SAFETY MANAGEMENT – University of South Africa (2017)

NATIONAL DIPLOMA in SAFETY MANAGEMENT – University of South Africa (2015)

EMERGING MANAGEMENT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME – University of Fort Hare (2015)

POLICING CERTIFICATE (2007)

PhD in DISASTER MANAGEMENT – DUT

MFMP – MUNICIPAL FINANCE MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME (2025)