Another son of the Vhembe soil has done it again. This comes after Prof Ntshengedzeni Alfred Nevhutanda was recently appointed chairperson of the National Lottery Board by the Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Rob Davis.

Nevhutanda is a resident of Makhado Municipality who has been actively involved with community development from 1989 to date.

He is the first black chairperson of the National Lottery Board since its inception in 1997. The National Lottery Board commands a budget of billions of rands every year. Of these billions, R3 billion is shared among sport and recreation, charities, arts and culture, national heritage and tourism distribution agencies.

Nevhutanda, who was born at Duthuni village in 1953, passed the then Std 8 at Phiriphiri Secondary in 1976. The following two years he went to Mphephu Secondary to study maths and science. At that stage, Nevhutanda was not a bright learner. He passed his Grade 12 with an F symbol and failed his first year at the former Venda College of Education in 1979. As a result, Nevhutanda, who was raised by two illiterate parents, decided to join Old Mutual as an insurance representative in 1980, until 1984.

"Though I failed at Veco, I continued to further my studies while working at Old Mutual. I also worked at Phiriphiri and Nngweni Secondary Schools," he said.

From 1988 to 1998, Nevhutanda worked at the now defunct Makhado College of Education as lecturer. This was after he had furthered his studies with the University of South Africa. He re-ceived his first junior degree through Unisa for Higher Education in 1989. Through dedicated studies, Nevhutanda received doctorates in music and education and also a master’s degree of busi-ness administration. Nevhutanda served as the chairperson of the ruling ANC in the 1990’s. In 1999, he was deployed to the provincial legislature as the MPL, heading the committee for sport, arts, culture, education and transport. He also served as chairperson of the Limpopo Operating Licensing Board and participated in the taxi recapitalization process. "Since 2005 until now, I have been the national chairperson of the operating licensing board," he said

He is a businessman who emerged from the rural area, a scholar of note and a leader with track records. He is the executive director of Coal of Africa.

The Thohoyandou branch of the Black Management Forum (BMF) congratulated Nevhutanda on his appointment.