Sifiso Mhlaba

Chief Executive Officer, South African Sugar Association

Sifiso Mhlaba is Chief Executive Officer of South African Sugar Association, in the role since November 2024.

The South African Sugar Association represents cane growers and millers in KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga, an industry it says supports about 65 000 direct jobs. Mhlaba, an agricultural economist, has pushed for higher import tariffs and for product diversification beyond sugar.

In the job

  1. The association appointed Sifiso Mhlaba as its chief executive from 1 November 2024, succeeding the retiring Trix Trikam. Source

  2. The association welcomed a self-initiated Itac investigation into sugar imports, with Mhlaba warning that insufficient tariffs put mills and growers at risk. Source

  3. Mhlaba told Business Day that deep-sea sugar imports were 213 322 tonnes in the 2025/26 season and that millers and growers lose about R1.5 billion a season to imports sold below cost. Source

Career before

  1. National Market and Trade Policy Director, South African Sugar Association
  2. from 2015National Market Executive, South African Sugar Association
  3. Regulatory and competition economist, DNA Economics

Education

BSc and BSc Honours in agricultural economics (both cum laude), North-West University; MSc in applied economics, Washington State University; MBA, Stellenbosch University; Certified Director, Institute of Directors in South Africa

Sources

  1. sasa.org.za
  2. sasa.org.za
  3. foodformzansi.co.za
  4. businessday.co.za
  5. timeslive.co.za

Facts last checked 3 November 2026. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.

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