http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/C ... ?id=125689
Another senior Transnet official resigns.
YET another Transnet executive, Vuyo Kahla, has announced that he would be leaving the parastatal, barely a day after acting CEO Chris Wells announced his departure.
JULIUS BAUMANN
Published: 2010/11/03 09:13:34 AM
YET another Transnet executive, Vuyo Kahla, has announced that he would be leaving the parastatal, barely a day after acting CEO Chris Wells announced his departure.
Mr Kahla, an executive in the office of the CEO and responsible for government and parliamentary relations, said yesterday that he would be leaving with effect of December 1 to pursure a career in the private sector.
On Monday Mr Wells said he would would be leaving at the end of March next year.
While Transnet had emphasised that Mr Wells amd Mr Kahla had made their decisions before the appointment of new Public Enterprises Minister Malusi Gigaba this week,
the timing of the announcements has given the impression that the two departures could be linked.
Mr Wells got on well with former public enterprises minister Barbara Hogan , who strongly defended the principles of corporate governance during the succession battle after the departure of CEO Maria Ramos. Ms Hogan also acted as a bulwark against political intervention in the enterprise.
The announcement of his departure could be interpreted as the executives taking a gloomy view of the likelihood that this intervention would not persist under Mr Gigaba.
The resignations also leaves Transnet facing a major leadership crisis with many of the senior positions still to be filled. Among the logistics group’s senior posts now filled by acting appointees are that of chairman, group CEO, and CEO of Transnet Freight Rail, the group’s largest operating division.
Ayanda Shezi, spokeswoman for the Department of Public Enterprises, said yesterdayy that a process was under way to appoint a permanent board and chairman and expected the process to concluded shortly.
"The new board will then oversee the appointment of a new group chief executive for Transnet," she said.
"While it is regrettable that the situation has taken longer than desired to be concluded, the current management has done a sterling job in steering the company, and Transnet’s recent interim results are further proof of that. We are confident that this matter will be concluded soon, to allow Transnet to devote its full attention to the efficient running of its business."