Qualification cloud over Sanral chair

Johannesburg - The chair of the board of roads agency Sanral resigned abruptly this week after her fellow board members questioned her qualifications – particularly a claim that she holds a master’s degree, Fin24 sister publication City Press reported on Sunday.

The transport ministry said on Thursday Tembakazi Mnyaka resigned from the board with immediate effect, citing personal reasons.

The ministry said in a statement Transport Minister Dipuo Peters had received the letter of resignation, which Peters accepted.

But behind the scenes, sources claim Mnyaka was confronted by board members and asked to step down after she was questioned about discrepancies in her CV regarding her master’s degree in town planning from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN).

Insiders at the road agency said Mnyaka had initially resisted a demand by fellow board members that she resign, but decided to leave last week (coincidentally as City Press started asking questions).

Sanral, which manages and maintains South Africa’s rail network, worth an estimated R230bn, has been embroiled in controversy in Gauteng over its management of the unpopular e-toll system in the province.

This led to speculation that she might have resigned because of public pressure over e-tolls.

Also read Fin24 user reactions on the resignation:

E-tolling: Is the ship sinking?
Crisis brewing within Sanral - Outa