President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed Dipak Patel as deputy chairperson of the Presidential Climate Commission (PCC) for a tenure running from 2026 to 2030 in line with Section 10 (8) of the Climate Change Act.

In a statement, Ramaphosa said Patel’s appointment would strengthen the commission’s work on climate finance, investment mobilisation, and the delivery of South Africa’s just energy transition objectives.

Patel joined the PCC in 2021 as head of climate finance and innovation, responsible for the portfolio of climate finance mapping, financing a just transition, and developing a strategy for financing South Africa's just transition and climate action interventions.

In January, he was among the 25 new commissioners appointed by the President.

Prior to joining the PCC, Patel was a special adviser to the late Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan, from 2018 to 2020, having been a director-general of the National Department of Transport in the late 1990s.

He is a chemical engineer with an MSc in Development Economics (University of London) and an MBA (University of the Witwatersrand). 

Ramaphosa, who chairs the PCC, appointed members of the inaugural PCC in December 2020, with Valli Moosa as the inaugural deputy chairperson.

Moosa was followed during 2025 by Dr Crispian Olver, who was the commission’s inaugural executive director.

In a statement, Ramaphosa described Patel as an experienced professional with expertise in production management, process engineering, climate finance, and investment banking, with strong networks across the business and public sectors.

PCC executive director Dorah Modise welcomed the appointment, stating that it brought with it continuity from his previous roles in the commission.

Patel said he was humbled by the responsibility bestowed on him by the President, as the country undertook a complex transformation.

"Our strength, relevance and value remain in our commitment to maintain integrity in our advice and recommendations to government and society and the commitment to engaging the diverse sectors of our society in shaping climate and development policy," Patel said.