President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement of the new cabinet raises concerns about whether the appointments are politically-motivated rather than focused on the need to stay on track and confront the country's pressing issues.
This was the concern raised by the Road Freight Association (RFA) in a statement on Tuesday in which the sector highlighted its commitment to working with the incoming ministers to deal with the sector’s challenges.
“Despite the rhetoric about ‘delivery’ there are indications that the selections may be driven more by political calculations than a genuine desire to tackle the critical problems facing the nation, such as issues around crime, transport, energy and employment,” the RFA said.
The RFA added its prime focus is on the appointments in the Department of Transport (DoT), the Department of Employment and Labour, the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, and the Department of Small Business Development.
“In this regard, the association is sorry to see changes to the whole ministerial team at the Department of Transport. The association had a very engaging and positive working relationship with Ministers Sindisiwe Chikunga and Lisa Mangcu, with good progress being made on a number of core issues related to compliance,” the RFA said.
However, the association said it looked forward to working with the new DoT Minister Barbara Creecy and her deputy Mkhuleko Hlengwa, whom it hoped would keep already identified solutions to challenges on track.
“We are at a crisis in terms of various aspects of transport, both freight and persons. Our links to the global market are at such a stress-point that solid, enlightened and positive leadership along the paths already mapped out is crucial. There is no time to re-evaluate and research possible alternative solutions,” said the RFA.
It said the National Logistics Crisis Committee has already identified solutions to turn Transnet’s monopoly and infrastructure around to make it a vibrant player in the logistics supply chain.
“The association wishes the newly-appointed ministers in these portfolios the very best. The ministers will need to turn around departmental thinking and the thousands of public servants who need to change the way they serve the country where required, the acceptance in the change of direction and possibly new focuses,” the RFA said.
RFA CEO Gavin Kelly reiterated the need to keep solutions and successes on track.
“The Road Freight Association is cognisant of the changes that are required due to the results of the election, but it is concerned that the various advances and progresses that were made in a couple of key departments are actually going to remain on track and not be changed with the new leadership,” Kelly said.
“It is vitally important that in the areas of crime, logistics and even energy that the advancements and progresses that have been made, and the successes that have been achieved
over the last couple of months or even a year, in some cases, are maintained,” Kelly added.
“We hope that with the new appointments, who may come from different political parties, their energy will be expended on ensuring that the challenges to the country are addressed and that infighting doesn't result,” he said.
Kelly said the association trusted that the DoT along with the Department of Labour and the Department of Home Affairs would continue with their programmes aimed at reducing levels of non-compliance in the sector.
