MAHIKENG – The North West Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) has officially announced the appointment of Lerato Gambu as its new Head of Communication and Departmental Spokesperson on Thursday, 13 August 2026, alongside two other key senior appointments aimed at strengthening governance and accelerating service delivery across the province.
Gambu, an experienced communicator, expressed immense gratitude for the opportunity to lead the department’s public engagement strategy during a critical period for local governance.
“I am deeply honoured to take on the role of Head of Communications for COGTA in the North West Province, especially at a time where local government is the epicentre of service delivery,” Gambu stated.
He emphasized that communication should serve as a two-way street rather than a one-sided information broadcast.
“I believe that strategic communication is not just about disseminating information but rather a vital bridge between government and communities. My commitment is to harness communication as a tool to demystify government processes, amplify community voices, and cultivate an active, informed citizenry,” he added.
Gambu committed to working closely with his new team to establish transparent and reliable communication channels.
“Together with the team, we will work tirelessly to ensure that our communication channels are open, responsive, and reflective of the government’s dedication to transparency, thereby building trust and fostering a truly participatory democracy,” Gambu said.
Gambu’s appointment comes as part of a broader leadership reinforcement within the department. Following the announcement, COGTA Head of Department (HOD), Dr. Ben Bole, hosted an onboarding engagement session with the newly appointed executives.
During the session, Dr. Bole emphasized the strict adherence to professionalism, public service ethics, and the official Code of Conduct. In addition to Gambu, the department welcomed two other senior officials to its ranks Tebogo Gaolaelwe, who steps in as the Provincial Head of the Disaster Management Centre (PDMC) and Dithole Moate, who takes over the portfolio of Director for Municipal Administration and Governance.
Welcoming the new leadership cohort, the department expressed confidence that the new appointees would inject the necessary expertise to drive provincial resilience and clean governance. “Welcome to the team! We look forward to your contributions in driving service delivery and resilience across the province.”
