Ndebele asks Sanral board to review CEO's contract

In a statement, the departmental said: "The minister has requested the Director-General ... and the board to review the mandate and responsibilities of the Sanral CEO, a process that will subsequently inform the drafting of a new contract of employment."

The department said Ndebele held a meeting with Mahlalela and board chairperson Tembakazi Mnyaka, as well as Alli following his notice of resignation as Sanral boss earlier this month.

"The minister had received communication from the board informing him and the department of the CEO's decision to leave the organisation.

"Given Cabinet's decision to establish an Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) to look at all issues related to the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project (GFIP) and the implementation of e-tolling, the Minister brought the matter to the attention of the IMC for consideration," said the Department of Transport spokesperson Tiyani Rikhotso.

The IMC had expressed concern over the imminent departure of Alli, given his involvement in the GFIP process.

Alli was subsequently requested to withdraw his resignation in the interest of continuity at Sanral, particularly on issues related to the implementation of e-tolling.

Ndebele said the department and the board were currently working on a comprehensive programme to re-focus the mandate of Sanral.

"We want to broaden Sanral's mandate and reposition it in such a manner that it is able to provide much-needed support to provinces wherein capacity remains a challenge. We cannot have as a country a good national road network whilst provincial and municipal roads remain in a sorry state.

"We believe that the Sanral CEO has the necessary institutional memory to help us with the repositioning of Sanral," said Ndebele.