Ms. Yolisa Kani is Transnet’s Chief Business Development Officer (CBDO) and is responsible for; overall sales performance of the company, tasked with increasing the share of logistics spend from existing and new customers through identifying and pursuing new and diversified business opportunities locally and within the region and increasing Private and Public Partnerships. In her role as CBDO, Ms. Kani works closely with all Transnet Operating Divisions to lead and support customer and business growth, with the focus on customer excellence and developing innovative customer solutions as well as expanding Transnet’s footprint
Ms. Kani is an astute business executive with 22 years’ experience in Transport Engineering, Planning & Operations. She has a BSc (Hons) in Applied Science qualification, with a specialisation in Transportation Engineering from the University of Pretoria. She holds certificates in Accounting and Economics from Harvard University. She has also undergone an Advanced Professional Training in Integrated Transport Solutions in Germany, Spain and Geneva through the Union for International Transport Planners
She joined Transnet after serving as the Head of Public Policy in Southern Africa at Uber Technologies, where she was responsible Public Policy and expansions into new markets in Southern Africa. At Uber, Ms. Kani successfully brokered the deal between the company and the Taxi Industry in South Africa through strategic negotiations. She also was the lead for new mobility projects in Sub Sahara. Previously she also held senior government positions in the Ekurhuleni Metro, the Cross-Border Road and Transportation Agency as well as the City of Johannesburg (CoJ).
Amongst her many notable achievements and accolades, Miss Kani was in 2019 named one of the Top 100 women transport planners globally by the German Development Agency and a Top 50 Inspiring Woman in Tech by the Kingdom of the Netherlands. She has served on various Board and currently serves as the Chairperson of the South African Cities Network and a member of the NEPAD Business Foundation.
About Transnet: Transnet is a state owned company, operating as a corporate entity. It is the custodian of freight rail, ports and pipelines and is responsible for enabling the competitiveness, growth and development of the South African economy through the delivery of reliable freight transport and the handling of services that satisfy customer demand. It has a rail network of approximately 21000km, and owns and operates 16 cargo terminal operations situated across seven South African ports. Transnet focuses on 5 areas in pursuit of innovative and accelerated growth: Customer Growth and Freight Solutions, Liquids and Gas, Property and Infrastructure Spatial Solutions, Advanced Manufacturing and Digital; leveraging its ports, rail, pipeline, engineering and property portfolios.