Creecy
Transport Minister Barbara Creecy has announced sweeping leadership changes at the Road Accident Fund (RAF), South African Airways (SAA), and Transnet to restore governance and efficiency, saying the moves are part of a broader strategy to modernise the state-owned transport sector and support long-term economic growth.
The announcements came during a media briefing in Pretoria on Friday, where Creecy confirmed Cabinet’s approval of an interim board for the RAF, a new board for SAA, and a fresh non-executive director for Transnet. These steps follow ongoing challenges in the entities, including governance lapses, financial strains, and operational hurdles that have hampered service delivery and economic contributions. Creecy emphasised that strong leadership is key to turning around these vital arms of the transport network, which handle everything from road safety claims to air travel and freight logistics.
Starting with the RAF, Creecy highlighted the urgent need to fill a governance gap after dissolving the previous board in July 2025 due to “serious governance failures” and neglect of fiduciary duties. This had caused instability, with the fund facing frequent default judgments and delays in processing claims for road accident victims. “It became urgent and necessary to close the governance vacuum in the RAF leadership, the Interim Board will provide strategic direction, restore financial and governance stability, and work towards fulfilling the RAF’s critical mandate to the public,” said Creecy. 
The interim board, effective immediately, will serve for six months or until a permanent one is appointed. It is chaired by Kenneth Brown, a seasoned public finance expert and former chief procurement officer at National Treasury, where he led reforms to improve supply chain management and combat corruption.  Brown, born in 1962, also serves as a non-executive director at the Development Bank of Southern Africa since 2022, bringing deep experience in fiscal oversight and ethical governance to guide the RAF through its recovery.  Nonhlanhla Mabusela-Aikhuere is vice-chairperson; she is a chartered accountant with over a decade in investment banking and mining leadership, including as CEO of Thebe Mining Resources and founder of LungiNo Capital, specialising in deal structuring and financial modelling. 
Other members include Ntswaki Kutumela, an attorney and director at Shekinah Consulting with senior legal roles at firms like AECI and Hogan Lovells, who also sits on appeals boards for sports integrity and development agencies.  Innocentia Mmule Pule, a chartered accountant and former CFO of the National Empowerment Fund, adds entrepreneurial flair with qualifications from GIBS and INSEAD, having served as an independent non-executive at logistics firm OneLogix.  Richard Dyantyi, a veteran ANC politician born in 1968, brings policy expertise as a former MEC for Local Government and Housing in the Western Cape and recent chair of parliament’s Section 194 Enquiry.  Mpontshane Alfred Mkhipheni, or Alfred Mkhipheni Mpontshane, is a retired IFP MP and educator with degrees in arts and political sciences, known for his work in education committees during his parliamentary tenure until 2015.  Alfredina Themba contributes legal and administrative insights from various board roles in public entities. Neeshan Balton, executive director of the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation, offers a human rights perspective with decades in anti-apartheid activism and civil society leadership. 
The RAF, which compensates road accident victims and has a backlog of over 300,000 claims, has faced criticism for inefficiencies costing billions in legal fees and judgments.  Creecy’s earlier call for the fund to drop a legal challenge against the Auditor-General underscores her push for accountability, as the entity grapples with unqualified audits and rising liabilities. 
Turning to SAA, Creecy unveiled a new board chaired by Sedzani Faith Mudau, a chartered accountant and registered auditor with an MBA, who previously served as CFO in financial services and chaired Sentech SOC, overseeing clean audits and large investment portfolios.  Mudau, a business rescue practitioner, brings turnaround expertise to the airline, which emerged debt-free from business rescue in 2021 and posted its first profit in years.  “I am confident this new board will build on the strong foundation laid by the outgoing interim board, using the airline’s debt-free balance sheet and ring-fenced liquidity, they will implement a bold fleet expansion plan to ensure SAA remains competitive and financially independent,” Creecy added.
SAA aims to grow its fleet from 20 to over 50 aircraft by 2030, focusing on routes to Africa, Europe, and Asia without new government bailouts.  The airline, once a symbol of state inefficiency with R50 billion in bailouts, now operates profitably under CEO John Lamola, appointed in February 2025, and seeks private equity for expansion.  Creecy noted the board’s role in leveraging SAA’s clean slate to drive job creation and tourism.
For Transnet, Creecy appointed Khulekelwe Glynnis Mbonambi as a non-executive director, a chartered accountant with expertise in financial oversight and risk management. “The appointment of Ms Mbonambi is a vital step towards strengthening Transnet’s board, her expertise will help boost trade growth, improve freight logistics and port services, and ultimately create jobs across South Africa,” said Creecy.
Mbonambi joins amid Transnet’s recovery plan to lift freight volumes to 250 million tons annually by 2029, addressing issues like rail theft and port delays that cost the economy R1 billion daily at peak.  The company, under CEO Michelle Phillips, seeks R5 billion in funding and private partnerships for infrastructure, with Mbonambi’s skills aiding in stabilising operations and enhancing export competitiveness.
🔴 Central News Special Edition | Issue 112 🔴 Download the Latest Print and E-Edition | Headline: Ngwathe Local Municipality’s R2 Billion Budget Rejected as Unfunded by Free
State Treasury
Download Here:
Direct PDF Link:
https://centralnews.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Central-News-Issue-112.pdf
Read all our publications on magzter:
https://www.magzter.com/ZA/Central-News-Pty-Ltd/Central-News/Newspaper/All-Issues
Central News also offers Sponsored Editorial Content, Podcasts , Radio / Social Media Simulcast, Video Production , Live Streaming Services, Press Conferences, and Paid Interviews (Video/Audio) etc.
We guarantee exceptional exposure, reach, and engagement, with an excellent return on investment.
Advertisement:
To place your advert on our platforms (Print Newspaper or Digital Platforms) : Please email : sales@centralnews.co.za
For Business Related:
business@centralnews.co.za
Newsroom:
Send your Stories / Media Statements To: newsroom@centralnews.co.za
General Info:
info@centralnews.co.za
Office Administrator:
admin@centralnews.co.za
Whatsapp / Call: 081 495 5487
Website: https://www.centralnews.co.za
Social Media Platforms (@centralnewsza) : Linkedin, Facebook, Tiktok, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube