MEDIA RELEASE

SANRAL congratulates new Transport Minister

Pretoria, 7 March 2023 – The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) extends warm congratulations to the new Minister of Transport, Ms Sindisiwe Chikunga, following last night’s Cabinet reshuffle by President Cyril Ramaphosa.

“Minister Chikunga is no stranger to the transport portfolio, having served two terms as Deputy Minister (DM). Her appointment, which also renders her the shareholder for SANRAL, is welcomed with open arms,” said SANRAL Board Chairperson, Mr Themba Mhambi.

“Now, more than ever, the transport portfolio needs continuity and firm leadership, which is exactly what Minister Chikunga brings to the table. “While SANRAL has recently appointed a new CEO, it has largely retained the expertise in its Board, and coupled with a Minister who is acutely familiar with the portfolio and has an appetite for prioritising infrastructure development and transformation, the sector can only benefit from this continuity,” said Mhambi. The Board Chairperson also congratulated the new Deputy Minister of Transport, Mr Lisa Mangcu.

“The Deputy Minister, having served as Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee for Transport, is also very familiar with the sector and will no doubt play a pivotal role in supporting the Minister’s priorities for the greater transport sector,”

Mhambi said. “SANRAL looks forward to working with its new political leadership and pledges its ongoing commitment to serving the road users of South Africa.” Mhambi also paid SANRAL’s tribute to the former Minister of Transport Mr Fikile Mbalula. “Minister Mbalula was greatly supportive to the SANRAL Board during his tenure. His pride in the work SANRAL does was always visible during his interactions with stakeholders and the public in general. SANRAL will remember him for the passion and political oversight he brought to bear. He leaves us having resolved what was a long outstanding matter for the roads agency – the issue of e-tolls. We wish him well in his new role outside government.”