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Johannesburg - There is a lack of knowledge of transport logistics among members of the new Transnet board, the Transport Workers Union said on Thursday.
"We are... disappointed that the skills and interests mix of the board is totally skewed towards big business and the private sector," said spokesman Zenzo Mahlangu.
He said some board members were in the motor, waste, banking, oil, telecoms and advertising industries.
"But besides a logistics consultant, the chairperson of the Port Shepstone Harbour Development Corporation and the chairperson himself, there appears to be very little depth of knowledge of transport logistics."
He welcomed the appointment of Mafika Mkhwanazi as chairperson, "having had a positive association with him in the past in his capacity as Transnet CEO".
Mahlangu also welcomed the move to a "good gender balance" with half of the 14 board members being women.
Having not one board member with a known record of involvement in development issues was "disappointing", he said.
"Satawu is deeply concerned that the newly appointed board might sideline the parastatal's developmental mandate in favour of further privatisation and an emphasis on the bottom line i.e. profit at the expense of all else."
He said the labour union would set up a meeting with the chairperson of the board to "share some of the union's concerns including some of the privatising decisions of the outgoing board".
