Qondisa Ngwenya has been appointed chief executive officer and Edward Khoza chief operating officer of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the 2027 men’s ODI World Cup, to be staged in South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe.
Cricket South Africa (CSA) announced the pair’s elevation after what it called a “rigorous recruitment and selection process”. Both candidates, CSA said, showed “strong capabilities to lead the planning and operational delivery” of the tournament, scheduled for October-November 2027.
Khoza is well known in domestic cricket circles. He served as CSA’s head of cricket pathways during the Social Justice and Nation-Building hearings in 2021 and later became executive for domestic cricket. Ngwenya, meanwhile, arrives from a broader sporting background. He is currently president of Cycling South Africa and previously headed television production company Octagon.
Trevor Manuel, chair of the LOC board, welcomed the appointments. “The LOC Board is delighted to welcome Qondisa and Edward,” he said. “We look forward to their expertise in delivering a demanding mega sporting event of this magnitude.” Manuel added, “They have proved to be more than capable of delivering the Board’s vision to unite the global community through the ICC Cricket World Cup 2027, inspire the next generation, and leave a lasting legacy of sport, sustainability, and social cohesion.” He also noted, “We equally extend our appreciation to Cricket South Africa for supporting the process, and the International Cricket Council for endorsing the appointments.”
The 2027 World Cup returns to a 14-team format, featuring 54 matches. Ten Full Member nations qualify automatically—through ranking or host status—while four spots will be filled via a global qualifier involving ten sides. The format echoes the 2003 edition, the last time South Africa hosted a men’s World Cup.
Both administrators now face the practical work of finalising venues, logistics and commercial deals. Expect early dialogue with provincial unions and government agencies—stadium upgrades, transport links, ticketing and security all sit high on the agenda. Given Khoza’s pathway experience, local talent promotion should also be a thread, aligning with CSA’s broader transformation goals.
With just under two years until the first ball is bowled, Ngwenya and Khoza have time, if not much to spare, to turn board-room planning into a seamless tournament.
