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Cape Town - E-toll operator boss Salahdin Yacoubi has resigned from Electronic Tolling Collection (ETC) Pty Ltd for personal reasons, chairperson André Laux said on Friday.
ETC was established in 2009 and appointed by national roads agency Sanral to manage Gauteng’s multi-billion e-tolls collections process.
In an emailed response to Fin24 Laux said Yacoubi made the decision to leave the ETC project after 4 years of service in which he has achieved the establishment of the company in what has often been uncertain circumstances.
"His decision to leave is based on personal reasons and is with immediate effect."
Laux also confirmed that Jamie Surkort, a general, financial and commercial management professional with 10 years of experience in the local and international Intelligent Transport Industry sector, had been appointed as new CEO.
Surkont is a South African and was instrumental in the development of the open road tolling opportunity in South Africa for Kapsch Trafficom, Laux said.
ETC is a single purpose company and was established in late 2009 to deliver the services contracted by Sanral to a joint venture of companies.
The joint venture consists of South African black empowered company Traffic Management Technologies (TMT) and Austrian e-tolling company Kapsch TrafficCom.
This means that ETC cannot do any other businesses than Gauteng open road tolling for Sanral.
Surkont has held various roles within the Kapsch TrafficCom Group, the latest a dual role as head of Road Safety Enforcement for the Kapsch Trafficom Group and the General Manager of International Business Development and Operations for TMT.
Outa chairperson Wayne Duvenhage said on Friday the Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance is surprised at the sudden departure of Yacoubi.
"Departures at an executive level do not happen at such short notice when the ship is sailing on a steady course, certainly not on the eve of the e-toll programme launch, which is now almost three years behind its initial launch date," said Duvenhage.
Outa has consistently stated that this specific e-toll project has been ill-conceived from the outset.
"It is grossly flawed and is certainly not the most practical solution to fund the Gauteng freeway upgrade.
"Until we know the facts, we can only assume that challenges and difficulties arising from the system’s inefficiencies may have played some part in Yacoubi’s sudden departure," he said.
Sanral on Thursday told Fin24 that Yacoubi’s resignation would have no impact on its contract with ETC.
"Sanral has a contract with ETC and the resignation of its CEO has no impact on that contract. The work ETC is doing for Sanral will continue," said Vusi Mona, General Manager: Communications at Sanral.
- Fin24
ETC was established in 2009 and appointed by national roads agency Sanral to manage Gauteng’s multi-billion e-tolls collections process.
In an emailed response to Fin24 Laux said Yacoubi made the decision to leave the ETC project after 4 years of service in which he has achieved the establishment of the company in what has often been uncertain circumstances.
"His decision to leave is based on personal reasons and is with immediate effect."
Laux also confirmed that Jamie Surkort, a general, financial and commercial management professional with 10 years of experience in the local and international Intelligent Transport Industry sector, had been appointed as new CEO.
Surkont is a South African and was instrumental in the development of the open road tolling opportunity in South Africa for Kapsch Trafficom, Laux said.
ETC is a single purpose company and was established in late 2009 to deliver the services contracted by Sanral to a joint venture of companies.
The joint venture consists of South African black empowered company Traffic Management Technologies (TMT) and Austrian e-tolling company Kapsch TrafficCom.
This means that ETC cannot do any other businesses than Gauteng open road tolling for Sanral.
Surkont has held various roles within the Kapsch TrafficCom Group, the latest a dual role as head of Road Safety Enforcement for the Kapsch Trafficom Group and the General Manager of International Business Development and Operations for TMT.
Outa chairperson Wayne Duvenhage said on Friday the Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance is surprised at the sudden departure of Yacoubi.
"Departures at an executive level do not happen at such short notice when the ship is sailing on a steady course, certainly not on the eve of the e-toll programme launch, which is now almost three years behind its initial launch date," said Duvenhage.
Outa has consistently stated that this specific e-toll project has been ill-conceived from the outset.
"It is grossly flawed and is certainly not the most practical solution to fund the Gauteng freeway upgrade.
"Until we know the facts, we can only assume that challenges and difficulties arising from the system’s inefficiencies may have played some part in Yacoubi’s sudden departure," he said.
Sanral on Thursday told Fin24 that Yacoubi’s resignation would have no impact on its contract with ETC.
"Sanral has a contract with ETC and the resignation of its CEO has no impact on that contract. The work ETC is doing for Sanral will continue," said Vusi Mona, General Manager: Communications at Sanral.
- Fin24
