Macozoma expected to lead Sanral into new era

Pretoria - The new CEO of the SA National Road Agency (Sanral), Skhumbuzo Macozoma, is well-equipped to lead the agency into a new era of growth and an expanded mandate to manage SA’s road infrastructure, the Sanral board said on Thursday.
 
Following Cabinet's announcement of the appointment of Macozoma, board chair Roshan Morar said he is confident the appointment will be welcomed within the broader engineering sector, the construction industry and the investor community.
 
"Mr Macozoma brings strong professional credentials and an impressive track record of leadership and service in the industry. Sanral is fortunate to have found someone of his calibre and experience,” said Morar.
 
Macozoma will succeed Nazir Alli, the founding CEO of Sanral, as he retires this month after 18 years at the helm of the organisation.
 
Morar emphasised that the pace and direction of SA’s economic growth is dependent on the quality of its infrastructure. He said Sanral plays a leading role to ensure SA’s road network is "well-managed and in excellent shape".

"Mr Macozoma is well qualified to continue the agency on this path. He will take over the executive leadership of an organisation that is highly regarded both locally and globally for the quality of its corporate governance and its excellence in engineering and project management," said Morar.

Sanral recently received an unqualified audit report for the 13th consecutive year. The agency manages a total national road network of almost 22 000km covering all nine provinces.

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Macozoma holds a B.Sc and M.Sc in civil engineering. He was the chief officer: transport and logistics of the 2010 Fifa World Cup Local Organising Committee from 2008 to 2010 and served as a transport manager on the same committee from 2007 to 2008. Prior to that, he was chief director: integrated infrastructure network development in the National Department of Transport (2003 to 2007) and also worked as a project manager and research engineer for the CSIR from 1993 to 2002. He also served as the managing director of the Johannesburg Roads Agency. Currently he is the CEO of the Electronic Tolling Company and has in the past served as a non-executive director of Sanral.
 
Morar paid tribute to Alli, who led the organisation since its establishment by the government of President Nelson Mandela in 1998.

“Nazir Alli is a visionary who truly understands the crucial role of roads to connect people to places and keep the wheels of the South African economy turning. We wish him well in his future endeavours and know that Sanral will in future be able to draw on his experience and knowledge,” said Morar.

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