SPU is pleased to welcome Mr Nicromano Liebenberg as Deputy Director: ICT Governance and Cybersecurity – a strategic appointment that enhances the University’s digital resilience.
Originally from Somerset West in Cape Town, Mr Liebenberg has spent the past 17 years embedded in the professional and digital development landscape of the Northern Cape. He relocated to Kimberley in 2007 for a role with the State Information Technology Agency (SITA), and from 2021 to 2024, he served as the Regional Senior Cybersecurity Consultant for the Western, Eastern and Northern Cape provincial governments, with Kimberley as his base of operations. He brings over three decades of experience in ICT, cybersecurity, information systems and governance – all areas classified as scarce and critical skills nationally.
His distinguished career began in the South African Navy’s Electronic Warfare Division, where he contributed to the national Y2K programme and helped lay the groundwork for the country’s information systems security standards within the defence environment.
Most recently, he held the role of Director: Cybersecurity in the Office of the Premier, Northern Cape Provincial Government, where he led efforts to improve cybersecurity maturity across departments and advance the provincial Broadband Strategy.
In 2025, Mr Liebenberg launched the Northern Cape Provincial Cybersecurity Incident Response Team (NC PCSIRT), which brings together provincial government and private sector stakeholders to safeguard the province’s digital infrastructure. The team also serves as a Cyber Association for the Northern Cape, enabling collaboration among cybersecurity professionals. He is currently exploring opportunities to establish a cybersecurity lab within SPU, focused on developing urgently needed cybersecurity skills for the region and beyond.
Importantly, Mr Liebenberg has maintained a longstanding relationship with SPU since 2015. He has supported the University’s cyber talent development initiatives, often volunteering as a mentor and judge at student hackathons – including the 2025 Capture the Flag Cybersecurity Challenge, where he helped select SPU’s representative team. His involvement illustrates the value of university-community-industry collaboration, a key priority in SPU’s strategic direction.
Reflecting on his transition into higher education, Mr Liebenberg shared:
“This is a very exciting period in my life – change is as good as a holiday. I was warmly welcomed, and Prof Paul Green’s message on the University’s vision and mission to the new employees on our first day was especially inspiring. I already feel included and professionally embraced.”
Beyond his technical expertise, Mr Liebenberg is a dedicated community contributor, having served as Chairperson of the Kimberley Regional Coaching Board. He is a qualified World Rugby Level 3 Coach and Coaching Educator for the Northern Cape Rugby Union. He is also a proud husband and father of two daughters.
His appointment reflects SPU’s continued focus on strengthening internal capacity in strategic and scarce skill areas such as cybersecurity, while contributing to the University’s broader goal of advancing digital capabilities and growing community-embedded expertise. Mr Liebenberg’s leadership in ICT governance and cybersecurity aligns strongly with SPU’s long-term vision of regional development through technical excellence and strategic talent recruitment.
