Questions are being raised about the termination of the contract of Transnet acting CEO Tau Morwe who, in a surprise move by the parastatal, has learned that his six-month contract will not be extended.
This is after board chairman Popo Molefe earlier this year expressed his “full confidence in the new executives” tasked to place the national freight and rail company back on track after years of state-capture interference.
On Wednesday Transnet announced that it had appointed its acting chief financial officer, Mohammed Mahomedy, to take over from Morwe whose contract ends today.
Mahomedy has held the role of Transnet’s acting chief financial officer for the past 12 months.
“The stability of the organisation remains a key focus of the board and this appointment was made with this in mind, giving consideration to Mahomedy’s experience at Transnet over a period or more than 12 years,” a statement released by the board of directors said.
“Transnet is working towards filling critical vacancies that currently exist at executive level, including that of the GCE and GCFO, in the coming months.”
Although Molefe and his board has been at pains to garner public support as Transnet heads to the Commission of State Capture chaired by Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, alarm bells have been rung about Transnet dumping a veteran so close to its appearance before the commission next week.
In the meantime unconfirmed reports have emerged about a R4.9-billion CCTV at Transnet on which Morwe has apparently signed off.
His contract termination is said to have come at an eleventh hour as public enterprises minister Pravin Gordhan was about to be asked by Transnet to extend his contract.
The EFF has since waded into the conversation, asking why Gordhan has appointed Mahomedy as acting CEO.
The red beret’s deputy president, Floyd Shivambu, tweeted: “Let the 8th of May come so that we can save South Africa from the cabal that undermines our people everywhere.”
- Eugene Goddard
