Pretoria - Fifteen new board members have been appointed at Transnet, in the hope that this would place the parastatal on a "firmer footing".
Briefing the media on Wednesday, Public Enterprises Minister Malusi Gigaba said a board vacancy for a ports specialist would remain, to be filled at a later stage.
"It is unfortunate that the filling of these positions has taken longer than desired to finalise, but we are confident that the appointment ... places the company on a firmer footing to achieve its strategic mandate as set out by the state."
Gigaba said the board had the required skills and experience. It would be chaired by Mafika Mkwanazi, a member of the state-owned enterprises review committee and non-executive director of the SA Bureau of Standards.
Gigaba said the appointments brought some stability to its leadership, and allowed it to focus more on its core business.
The appointments were endorsed by the cabinet on Wednesday. The board will serve with effect from December 13.
The board members are: Mkwanazi (chairperson), Peter Malungani, Israel Skosana, Nazmeera Moola, Michele "Mike" Fannuchi, Doris Tshepe, Donald Mkhwanazi, Tembakazi Mnyaka, Ellen Tshabalala, Iqbal Sharma, Harry Gazendam and Professor Juergen Schrempp.
The board members retained from the outgoing board are: Peter Moyo, Nolwazi Gcaba and Nunu Ntshingila.
The incoming board of Transnet already has its work cut out for it.
"We will give it some stringent timelines during which it must finalise the recruitment process for the group CEO, and make the necessary recommendations to the ministry ... the filling of other key vacancies within the Transnet Group is also an immediate priority for the board."