http://www.businessday.co.za/Articles/C ... ?id=140050
Vacant top Transnet post worries major union
Union concerned at the delay in appointing a substantive chief financial officer for Transnet.
by CHANTELLE BENJAMIN
Published: 2011/04/13 07:05:37 AM
TRANSNET’S largest trade union, the United Transport and Allied Trade Union (Utatu), has expressed concern at the delay in appointing a substantive chief financial officer, saying this post was key to the company’s stability.
Anoj Singh has been acting chief financial officer for nearly two years. The position is the only one on Transnet’s executive committee which has not been filled.
Transnet spokesman Mboniso Sigonyela has said CE Brian Molefe was still "considering the position". He could not say if there were other candidates being considered for the position, or when a permanent appointment was likely to be made.
Transnet has been in flux for some time, with staff members taking on temporary posts necessitated firstly by the loss of CEO Maria Ramos, who was replaced by chief financial officer Chris Wells in an acting capacity, with Mr Singh in turn filling in for Mr Wells.
The legal battle around the suspension of Transnet Freight Rail CEO Siyabonga Gama, which dragged on for months, saw staff members being moved from Transnet group to Transnet Freight Rail or from positions within the freight division to fill management positions temporarily because a permanent replacement for Mr Gama could not be found until the legal issues had been resolved. Mr Gama has since been reappointed.
Utatu general secretary Steve Harris said they were pleased with the permanent appointment of senior management and executives. "We are concerned that the CFO (chief financial officer) position still does not have a permanent appointment because it’s a key position for the stability of the company."
Mr Sigonyela confirmed last week that Transnet’s group executive for human resources and strategy, Pradeep Maharaj, had resigned on April 1 and would serve out a month’s notice.
Mr Gama, at the time of his suspension, accused Mr Maharaj and Mr Wells of leading a probe against him. It is unclear if this was the motive for Mr Maharaj’s resignation.