Silvester Wayiti set to energise Nored’s future

Newly appointed Northern Regional Electricity Distributor (Nored) chief executive Silvester Wayiti (39) says his focus is on improving sustainability, efficiency and long-term growth at the electricity distribution company.

Before joining Nored, Wayiti served as chief executive of HopSol Africa.

Wayiti, who took on the role in March, brings broad experience in the electricity supply sector, having worked, in addition to his top-level HopSol role, at Debmarine Namibia, NamPower, and the Central North Regional Electricity Distributor.

Wayiti holds a BSc honours in electrical engineering from the University of Cape Town, a master's in engineering management from the University of Pretoria, an executive leadership certificate from Oxford's Saïd Business School, and a board certification from Stellenbosch University's Business School.

“I am excited to take up this role and contribute towards making Nored sustainable,” said Wayiti.

He began his career in 2009 at NamPower, which shaped his professional trajectory.

"It is at NamPower that I grew from assistant engineer to project manager and systems engineer before taking on senior roles within the electricity supply industry," he explained.

Wayiti added that his career path was not always clear while in high school.

“My first option was medicine, but I was accepted into engineering at the University of Cape Town. I enjoy what I do now and would not trade it for any other career.”

Honing professional skills and spotting opportunities 

Wayiti said his leadership style is rooted in personal experience. “Losing my parents at an early age shaped resilience, discipline and the ability to instil hope."

He further stressed that effective leadership requires discipline and evidence-based decision-making rather than assumptions or rumours.

“It is about professionalism, discipline and making decisions based on facts, not hearsay,” he said.

Wayiti explained that his vision is to position Nored as a leading and sustainable electricity distributor in the region.

That sustainability requires financial stability, compliance and strong stakeholder relationships, he added.

He noted that the organisation is currently performing well, but there is room for improvement, particularly in areas such as liquidity, operational efficiency, staff morale and customer satisfaction.

He also acknowledged operational challenges such as long distribution distances and a large prepaid customer base, but said these also present opportunities for innovation and growth.

Looking ahead, Wayiti highlighted renewable energy and local generation as key opportunities that could reduce costs and improve financial performance, while strengthening the company’s long-term sustainability.

On leadership culture, he emphasised consistency and accountability, noting that discipline is essential for long-term success and organisational stability.

“I wake up every day excited to create solutions and make a positive impact."