Minister vows SOEs order

NEWLY appointed Transport Minister Joe Maswanganyi has vowed to rein in the chaos facing some stateowned entities, especially Prasa, saying he won’t allow a vacuum to exist in those organisations.

Addressing the media for the first time yesterday since his appointment by President Jacob Zuma, Maswanganyi said he’d be meeting with chairpersons and chief executives of parastatals.

“Our SOEs play an important role in implementation of the mandate of the department and of government,” he said.

The incumbent, who is set to also meet his predecessor, Dipuo Peters, for an official hand over, has inherited a number of challenges, including legal battles between the ministry and Prasa.

Maswanganyi said he would not interfere with any court cases, but warned he equally, would not shy away from restoring order and stabilising the entities.

“Prasa is a very critical entity of government.

“We are not going to interfere (in) legal processes. We will respect the outcome of the courts,” he said.

Last month the North Gauteng High Court reserved judgment in the case involving former Prasa chairman Popo Molefe, who alongside several other board members, brought an urgent application seeking to declare Peters’s decision to fire them as unlawful.

The minister will also hold talks with taxi bodies, bus and freight companies to discuss the R4.5 billion Moloto Corridor project, which in his State of the Nation address, Zuma said was a priority for government.

Maswanganyi said the road was currently under construction.

On the issues of e-tolls, Maswanganyi said he would engage stakeholders and take cues from government policies and concerns by motorists.

“We want to assure the nation that we are a government that listens.”

While some have questioned his credentials amid the recent cabinet reshuffle, speaking on the sidelines Maswanganyi said: “We can’t be bickering or fighting for positions.

“I’m not going to be sidetracked by people who have political issues against the ANC.”