The Department of Transport has noted a news report carried by the Mail and Guardian newspaper suggesting that a certain Mr Chris Hlabisa “tops the list” for the position of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of South African National Road Agency Limited (SANRAL).
The report is devoid of any grain of truth, misleading and can only be aimed at causing confusion and advancing narrow self-interests at the expense of the department and SANRAL’s currency.
The insinuation that Mr Hlabisa is “Ndebele’s buddy” is a figment of someone’s imagination aimed at casting aspersion over a professional working relationship.
It should further be noted that Minister Ndebele has been in the transport sector for the past 18 years and common sense would dictate that during these two decades, he would have interacted and worked with several professionals within this field.
We wish to put it on record that the Board of Directors of SANRAL is responsible for the recruitment and selection of the agency’s CEO, not the department or Minister of Transport.
The Board will within a reasonable period of time undertake a thorough and legitimate process of finding a suitable candidate to steer SANRAL forward.
Once the Board finalises the process and agrees on a candidate, it will request the Minister of Transport to table its recommendation before Cabinet, which has the authority to appoint or not to appoint.
The Board must be given space and support as they work towards maintaining stability at SANRAL and ensuring that the agency continues to deliver quality road networks to the people of South Africa.
We are confident that the Board has the necessary capacity to carry out this process with due diligence and within the confines of the relevant statutes.
We urge people to desist from spreading untested rumours with the mischievous intention to undermine legitimate processes.
Enquiries:
Tiyani Rikhotso
Cell: 083 570 1275
Statement of the Department of Transport on news report regarding the matter of the SANRAL Chief Executive
