Sascha-Lee Joseph
Mark Sethaelo is bidding farewell to the City of Johannesburg after 24 years of dedicated service. Throughout his career, he has held various managerial positions across different departments and Councils, showcasing his versatility and extensive experience in organisational leadership.
In his most recent role, Sethaelo served as Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo’s Executive Manager of Operations. During his tenure, he made significant contributions to the municipal entity, particularly in overseeing operational functions and ensuring efficient management within JCPZ.
His retirement marks the end of a long and impactful career, leaving behind a legacy of firm commitment to his team and the entity.
“On 30 June, I will say my final goodbyes as a City employee. I have no regrets because I have done what I needed to do in the world of work. I have accomplished all I can and collaborated with a great team I will cherish for the rest of my life,” says Sethaelo.
Sethaelo began his journey with the City as Manager of Environment for Midrand City Council in 2000. He then went on to serve as Executive Manager of Environmental Resource Management (ERM) for the Greater Johannesburg Metropolitan Council in October 2000.
On 1 March 2011, he was appointed General Manager for Parks, followed by roles such as General Manager of Regional Coordination and Operational Support on 19 March 2012, Executive Special Projects (acting capacity), and on 1 March 2013, General Manager of Urban Agriculture and Forestry.
In July 2013, he transitioned to the role of General Manager of the JCPZ Skills Academy as part of an organisational review. He held this position until being appointed Executive Manager for Operations on 1 May 2022.
“Working with environmental-related projects has always been what excites me most. Having a top-tier team to work with makes the job even more enjoyable,” he says.
Sethaelo was also involved in developing legacy projects for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, such as tree draping and aesthetic sculptures, as well as environmentally sustainable projects like Effective Microbes (EM) using bokashi balls to enhance the photosynthetic capacity of crops.
“The use of EM through methods like bokashi balls not only encourages plant establishment and growth but also increases the efficacy of organic matter as plant nutrients. It can also improve water quality, promote plant health, and aid in sludge reduction in dams,” explains Sethaelo.
He also enhanced the quality of training and development at the Skills Academy to obtain NQF Level 1 to NQF Level 2, establishing a World-Class Green Skills Academy with the addition of e-learning and e-learning drones to impact on-site training and enhance maintenance management.
“One of the greatest highlights of my career will always be my participation in 2010, where I championed the repositioning of public parks into fan parks for the soccer World Cup. Another fond memory includes the greening project in Soweto,” says Sethaelo.
He reflects that his career largely involved overseeing operations, implementing strategies, and managing teams across multiple sectors or organisations, each role contributing to his overall professional growth and skill set development.
“I would like to leave behind for City employees words that will encourage them to take all the opportunities that they see and make the most of them. Work your way to the top,” Sethaelo encourages.
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