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Crisis brewing within Sanral - Outa

Cape Town - The announcement that chairperson of the South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) Tembakazi Mnyaka has resigned with immediate effect comes as no surprise, said the Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance (Outa).

"One only has to look at the number of issues that have contributed to the build-up of steam in Sanral's pressure pot, to cause people in Ms Mnyaka’s position to bail out. Given the nature of the fiascos which have developed over recent times, society would welcome the facts as to why Ms Mnyaka has resigned," said Outa in a statement on Thursday.

Outa chair Wayne Duvenage pointed out that chairpersons of parastatals like Sanral become public property.

“People who fill these positions need to ensure that the board of the state-owned entity is not prejudiced by conflicts of interest, and that all risks are managed in a professional and transparent manner. 

"Given all the vexing issues the Sanral board has had to contend with, (Mnyaka's) sudden departure does not come as a surprise,” said Duvenage.

He listed the following issues as possible symptoms of Sanral's "organisational crisis":

• The e-toll "debacle", which has run up outstanding bills of about R1.5bn to date and is currently under its third review;
• Litigation surrounding Sanral’s need for secrecy of “sensitive” information to protect commercial interests of an unsolicited bid for the Western Cape Winelands Toll project;
• A brewing issue around the Pondoland community’s rejection of Sanral’s proposed new tolled road through the Wild Coast;
• The Lwandle squatter eviction "debacle"; and
• The lack of explanation to the public of Sanral’s action "against the collusive construction companies who overcharged society for the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project". Duvenage said that Outa has yet to receive detailed feedback from Mnyaka for a request on developments around this matter.

Outa joint spokesperson John Clarke said the lack of factual information pertaining Mnyaka’s resignation will result in "unnecessary speculation, conjecture and intrigue, which is not conducive to resolving the crisis brewing within Sanral".

Fin24 users also added their voice to the sudden departure of Mnyaka, with Revelgen commenting: "And so more rats indeed leave the sinking ship. In November last year, Salahdhin Yacoubi, the CEO of Electronic Tolling Collections (the company tasked with collecting e-toll money) resigned.

"His successor, Ben Theron, resigned in January this year 'for personal reasons'. Now the chairperson of Sanral, Tembakazi Mnyaka, has resigned 'for personal reasons'... Like 'this ship's going down baby, and I don't want to be on it'.

Don't forget Nazir Alli, commented user Konstabel Koekemoer: "He also submitted his resignation a year or two ago but they persuaded him to stay."

Revelgen called the apparent crumbling of the e-tolls programme a "victory for the people who pay to keep SA running".

Pravin perfect for the job

Koekemoer said it "seems like nobody wants to be around when all the dirt around the whole e-toll saga is eventually exposed.

"We all know that at best all involved are guilty of total mismanagement as there was never any proper consultation or business case done, but more than likely there was also huge corruption with bribes and irregular contracts."

The cracks are starting to show and it is just a matter of time now, said user Jaapie Bopape.

User Paul von Below called the Sanral chairperson position a "VERY hot seat".

Marco Visentin said "something (had to have) happened".

"An immediate resignation without allowing the ministry to appoint a successor is serious and this does not bode well for anyone. When the pressure is on, people capitulate."

He nominated Pravin Gordhan as a likely candidate for the job because "it takes people of strength integrity, resilience and personnel (sic) resolve to undertake whatever tasks are given to them, especially matters of such a nature. (Gordhan) is a man who will be able to see this through and with the correct results, but I suppose it is wishful thinking."

 - Fin24

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