By Akani Nkuna
Transport Minister Barbara Creecy has confirmed the appointment of new board members and directors for the Road Accident Fund (RAF), South African Airways (SAA) and Transnet to improve service delivery and revenue collection.
“To this end we must assure the country that we will do all within our power to rebuild and modernise the capabilities, operational effectiveness and competitiveness of the state-owned component of our logistics sector. Good governance of our transport entities is central to their effective performance,” Creecy said on Friday.
She was addressing the media in Pretoria on the latest development in her department, The RAF’s board was dissolved last month because it failed to act in the best interests of the institution. The other board members have completed their term of office.
The RAF board, appointed on an interim basis for six months, will be chaired by Kenneth Brown who will be deputised by Nonhlanhla Mabusela-Aikhuere. They are mandated to establish financial stability at the entity while ensuring that it fulfills its strategic mandate.
“The interim board must help address deficiencies in governance and control systems, including frequent incurrences of default judgments against the RAF. The interim Board will have to initiate a process of filling executive positions that are critical to the mandate of the fund. It will also cooperate with the current and future SIU investigations,” Barbara said.
Additionally, the minister said the department would continue to pursue the finalisation of the Road Accident Benefit Scheme Bill to further enable the entity to enhance its capacity to carry out its statutory obligations to the public.
Meanwhile, former SAA employee and Chartered Accountant Sedzani Mudau has been appointed as the chairperson of its board.
Creecy backed the new board members, saying with their wealth of experience in aviation, air services, airport administration, law and the security sector, they would be able to continue on the trajectory of the last two years where it profits have returned.
“The new board will lead an entity that is currently focused on stabilising its operating model following a return to profitability over the last two years. The board will bolster SAA’s governance processes by improving responses to audit findings and ensuring that the airline’s financial independence is maintained,” She added.
Furthermore, the minister commended the outgoing SAA interim board in leading the airline from business rescue in 2021 to a “stable flag carrier” now with the accumulation of several routes.
The minister also said Khulekelwe Mbonambi was the “most suitable candidate” to fill the vacancy of Non-Executive Director on the Transnet board as her financial skills would prove lucrative for the entity.
“This appointment is especially important today as we navigate Transnet towards financial stability, which is part of our overall drive to achieve speedy financial recovery and sustainability of the company, important determinants for gaining required operational efficiencies so desperately needed in freight logistics, port services, contributing to trade growth and job creation,” said Creecy.
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