Latest news with #BarbaraCreecy
The Citizen
a day ago
- Politics
- The Citizen
Barbara Creecy's passion to serve
She's the 13th occupant of the hot seat in what's probably one of the most complex and burdensome portfolios in government. Minister of Transport Barbara Creecy's got a dry sense of humour. Picture Michele Bega /The Citizen Barbara Creecy has served in government since the dawn of democracy in South Africa. That's 30 years plus change, and presently she's Minister of Transport, a portfolio that some may say is a hand dealt that's guaranteed to fold before the flop. She's the 13th occupant of the hot seat in what's probably one of the most complex and burdensome portfolios in government. 'It's hopefully a lucky number for me,' Creecy said. The Minister is armed with a sardonic, dry wit that's as enjoyable as her warmth that nurtures familiarity. She's the kind of person, it seems, that holds a room not by force, but by intellect paired with affability. And there are no airs and graces. What you see is what you get. Creecy said her almost lifelong marriage to politics has been as demanding as it has been fulfilling. 'It's been fun, it's been difficult, I've learned an enormous amount,' she said. 'I have had a very interesting life.' 'I've had a very interesting life' Creecy is an alumnus of Johannesburg's Roedean School and has been a long-standing member of the ANC's National Executive and Working Committees. Her political career dates back to 1979, when she joined the ANC, then banned, while a student at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits University). There she graduated with an Honours in political science before completing a Master's in public policy and management at the University of London. Creecy was a founding member of the United Democratic Front in 1983, and operated within the ANC underground, spending time in exile in 1988 in the then Soviet Union. She began her career in the post-1994 government in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature in 1994, where she was first elected as a Member of the Provincial Legislature in Gauteng. She spent ten years there, helping to shape what later became South Africa's national oversight framework. 'We developed a concept of parliamentary oversight that was different from the forms that exist elsewhere in the world,' she said. 'It included quarterly performance reviews of departments and entities, not just the budget.' A career of achievement During that period, she chaired both the Social Development and Education Committees. In 2004, she joined Premier Mbhazima Shilowa's provincial Cabinet as MEC for Sports, Arts and Culture, a role she held during the lead-up to the 2010 FIFA World Cup. In 2009, she moved to the education portfolio, focusing on performance improvements in township schools. 'We worked on turning around underperforming schools in Soweto and other communities,' she said. ALSO READ: Two South Africans, one laptop and a billion-rand travel company. By 2014, she was appointed MEC for Finance in Gauteng. Her team introduced the Gauteng Open Tender System and worked on initiatives to integrate township businesses into both public and private supply chains. 'We did a lot of work supporting Premier Makura on developing township enterprises,' she said. In 2019, Creecy moved to national government, taking up the Environmental, Forestry, and Fisheries portfolio. There, she worked on the Climate Act and international climate financing agreements. In 2024, she was appointed Minister of Transport. Here she oversees 16 entities and eight departmental branches. It includes problem children like Transnet, Prasa, SAA, and other industries that would be a headache to most. Creecy isn't fazed, but noted that a single term to get things done is not a long timeline. 'Five years is short. You must have an overarching vision so that you can move the system in a common direction,' she said. A vision with six targets Her vision is defined by six key targets: moving 250 million tons of freight onto Transnet's rail network, achieving 30 gross crane moves per hour at ports, 600 million Prasa passenger journeys by 2030, 42 million annual passengers through ACSA airports, 1.2 million tonnes of air freight, and halving road fatalities by 2030. Progress includes a 9-million-ton increase in Transnet freight, 48 000 more freight units through ports with cranes recommissioned, and 35 of 40 priority Prasa lines restored, enabling 77 million passenger journeys so far with a target of 116 million this year. Road accidents dropped 9% and fatalities 11%, attributed to coordinated enforcement at hotspots. Creecy said she does not intend to stay in public office beyond the current term. 'I think it will be time for me to retire,' she said. 'But I enjoy this portfolio now. It is intellectually stimulating and fast-paced.' Her daily routine is dominated by work, with time scheduled for exercise and healthy eating. 'I'm very health-conscious. Protein, vegetables, and a little fruit, definitely no carbs,' she said. Spare time is often reading time, particularly policy-related material. 'I've been reading books on rail reform,' she said, citing The Pig That Flew and Switchpoints, which detail the Canadian rail turnaround. 'They're not entirely synonymous with our challenges, but they are useful case studies.' The Minister has two children and is divorced. Her son is actively involved in nature conservation in Mpumalanga. She regrets nothing and is somewhat philosophical about the daily grind. 'I chose this work,' she said. 'Nobody forced me. I believe I can make a difference.' NOW READ: Husband and wife team rely on talent
The South African
3 days ago
- Automotive
- The South African
BAD news for motorists with expired drivers' licences in SA
Any South African motorists with expired drivers' licences are in for a longer-than-expected wait. Last week, it was revealed that the Department of Transport (DOT) filed papers with the Pretoria High Court to re-run its botched licence printing tender. The South African has been keeping track of the licence printing debacle that's several years behind schedule. However, the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA), has now revealed that papers have been filed to overturn the existing R886-million contract. This means we are no further along to resolving the issue of expired drivers' licences than we were years ago. Transport Minister Barbara Creecy has been under attack for her handling of the backlog debacle. Even though the irregularities took place before she was in office. Image: File In fact, so desperate is the DOT that it asked the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) to help print expired drivers' licences. However, even this hasn't gone smoothly, because the output needs to be approved the State Security Agency (SSA) before going ahead. The minister. had hoped for a three-month turnaround, but even this stop-gap solution looks unlikely. Meanwhile, it's estimated that the current backlog of expired drivers' licences now exceeds 600 000, reports TopAuto . Likewise, papers filed by the department in the High Court request a complete re-run of the tender process, which was originally awarded to French firm, Idemia. SA motorists will be given six months' grace if found driving without a valid driver's licence. However, you must be able to produce proof of renewal. Image: File Moreover, the sustainability of the DOT's ambitious new licence system is now in doubt. The department wanted fully digital, connected Driver's Licence Card Accounts (DLCA), but irregularities in the original tender procurement process could put pay to that elaborate idea, in favour of something more cost effective. The Audit General of SA's report found that Idemia had, 'failed to meet key bid technical requirements.' Primarily when it came to inadequate budget analysis and inconsistent application scoring. As a result, a backlog of expired drivers' licences continues to grow as the current, outdated printing machine suffers from frequent breakdowns. South Africa's aged card printing machine should have been replaced more than a decade ago. Image: File Furthermore, papers filed by the department outline other flaws in the tender application process. Including a R400-million cost escalation from the Cabinet-approved budget of R486 million, resulting in a total of R886 million. Even at this elevated cost, the successful tender used outdated pricing and omitted basic printing material costs, which would have increased taxpayer expense further still. It is unclear whether Idemia will oppose the DOT's court challenge. Meanwhile, anyone who awaiting expired drivers' licences is exempt from fines for six months. However, they must be able to show a renewal receipt as proof. At the start of July 2025, the number of expired drivers' licences waiting in the system were 602 831. 192 856 of which were destined for Gauteng, 86 862 for the Western Cape and 85 313 in backlog for KwaZulu-Natal. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Citizen
3 days ago
- Business
- The Citizen
SAA is bleeding money
SAA suffered a net loss of R354m, after R210m profit the previous year. The recovery of the airline as a global aviation brand is on track, says its CEO. Picture: Moneyweb Transport Minister Barbara Creecy's words that South African Airways (SAA) was finally in a position to contribute economic value weren't even cold when audited financial results for the financial year indicated the opposite. While the company generated revenue of R7.0 billion – a 23% year-on-year increase – the group also reported a net loss of R354 million, compared to a profit of R210 million in the prior year, SAA spokesperson Vimla Maistry said. SAA's financial standing This follows the annual general meeting on 17 July, which received the audited financial results for the year ended 31 March 2024 (FY2023-24). 'Besides the R415 million foreign-currency translation loss due to the rand's volatility, these results reflect the impact of exogenous factors on the airline,' Maistry said. 'This includes the effects of the Ukraine conflict, which pushed jet fuel costs from R1.3 billion to R1.9 billion; a global shortage of aircraft, which drove leasing costs up by over 30% in 2023; and delays in the delivery of budgeted aircraft, all of which negatively impacted revenue and Ebitda (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation). 'The latter declined from a positive R436 million in the prior year, to a negative R90 million.' Maistry said SAA's cash and cash equivalents position remained strong at R1.4 billion at the end of FY2023-24. The airline has zero borrowings and R6.4 billion in equity. 'Despite global aircraft availability constraints, during 2023- 24, SAA operated on average, with a fleet of 10 aircraft serving 15 destinations. The number of flights flown increased by 42%, with a significant increase in flights into Africa and routes from Johannesburg and Cape Town to Sao Paulo starting in the second half of the financial year,' she said. ALSO READ: Man who stole airport equipment that prevents mid-air collisions sentenced to 10 years Uncertainty in SAA's resuscitation SAA Group CEO John Lamola said the results detail a past phase of uncertainty in the airline's resuscitation. 'Since then, we have entered a period of structured and strategic reconstruction of the business, focusing on institutionalising robust governance and management systems, while implementing plans on fleet modernisation and route network expansion,' he said. Lamola said the financial statements mark the last of the outstanding audits from the business rescue period, with all prior-year adjustments resolved. 'SAA recognised a R431 million gain by derecognising business rescue creditor obligations and recording this amount as sundry income,' he said. 'However, the auditors concluded this amount should have been recognised as a prior-period adjustment to retained earnings, rather than in sundry income in the current year. 'As a result, the group's net result has been restated from a profit of R71 million to the reported loss of R354 million.' ALSO READ: SAA hit by 'significant' cyberattack disrupting internal operations 'They got money for mahala' Lamola said to reinforce its financial reporting, SAA's board has launched an Audit Health Plan that standardises key controls, expands internal audit capacity and strengthens collaboration with external auditors. 'After six consecutive audits in three years, SAA is firmly back on track to meet all statutory reporting deadlines and to devote its efforts towards improved audit outcomes,' he said. Economist Dawie Roodt said it was 'a big mess' that could no longer be whitewashed. 'I don't know what the accounting error is, but I suspect it has to do with impairment. Usually, if there are assets that you think you can't realise, then you write off the assets.' Roodt said SAA got an equity injection to try to rescue it. 'They got money for mahala. They tried to whitewash it,' he said. Political expert Piet Croucamp said bookkeeping got the better of the chief financial officer at SAA. 'It just proves what we have been saying for years. SA should not have a national carrier. They neither have the political will, nor the skills to manage the entity. 'They keep on trying and the public is paying for it,' he said. READ NEXT: SAA slips back into loss as fuel and plane leasing costs spiral
IOL News
17-07-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
South Africa's Board Dissolution Epidemic: A Symptom of Deeper Governance Malaise
Board dissolutions are symptoms, not solutions. Without fundamental reforms to how we select, oversee, and hold accountable both board members and their political principals, South Africa's governance crisis will only deepen. South Africa's public institutions are haemorrhaging credibility as ministers wield the dissolution axe with alarming frequency. From Transport Minister Barbara Creecy's dissolution of the Road Accident Fund board amid "governance and operational issues" to Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande's dramatic dismantling of the NSFAS board over chronic payment failures, the pattern is unmistakable: our state-owned entities are failing spectacularly. The sheer volume of board dissolutions reads like a governance disaster checklist. Basketball SA faced dissolution calls after nearly bungling the U18 African Championships, with R5-million in liabilities against just R36 000 in the bank. Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie dissolved the boxing board, creating what observers called "a vacuum" in the sport. The list extends to SA Tourism, multiple Gauteng provincial boards, and the perpetually troubled PRASA. This is not accountability; it is crisis management masquerading as decisive action. When dissolution becomes the default response to institutional failure, it signals a fundamental breakdown in governance oversight. Nzimande's dissolution of the NSFAS board epitomises the deeper malaise. The minister cited the board's inability to implement basic recommendations, failure to submit correct annual reports, and, most damningly, consistent inability to pay student allowances on time. The South African Union of Students called the dissolution "long overdue," describing NSFAS leadership as "some of the most inept and useless people to ever live". Yet where was ministerial oversight when these failures were festering? When opposition parties called for Nzimande's resignation, he defiantly declared: "I will not resign, I am not appointed by them". This encapsulates the accountability deficit plaguing our system. These dissolutions reveal a troubling power dynamic where ministers dissolve boards but rarely face consequences for their oversight failures. With South Africa's Government of National Unity under strain and voter turnout declining from 89% in 1999 to 58% in 2024, public faith in governance institutions is eroding. The question isn't whether these boards deserved dissolution- many did. The question is why they were allowed to fail so catastrophically under ministerial watch. When the Road Accident Fund board was dissolved, why wasn't the transport minister held accountable for allowing "governance and operational issues" to fester? When NSFAS chronically failed to pay student allowances, leaving thousands stranded, why did Minister Nzimande escape censure while his board faced the axe? The pattern suggests that board members serve as convenient scapegoats for broader systemic failures. Ministers appoint boards based on political aspirations rather than competence, provide minimal oversight, and then dissolve them when public pressure mounts. This creates a perverse incentive structure where political principals escape accountability while appointed boards bear the consequences of institutional collapse. The dissolution epidemic reflects not decisive leadership but a fundamental abdication of ministerial responsibility. Consider the audacity: ministers who failed to prevent these institutional meltdowns position themselves as the solution through dissolution, while the very cadre deployment system that created these failures remains untouched and ready to produce the next wave of incompetent appointees. Furthermore, these dissolutions disrupt institutional memory and continuity. When boards are repeatedly dissolved and reconstituted, organisations lose valuable experience and knowledge. The perpetual cycle of destruction and rebuilding wastes resources and undermines long-term strategic planning. Citizens suffer as essential services deteriorate while institutions lurch from crisis to crisis. The cost of this governance failure is measured not just in financial terms but in the erosion of public trust and institutional effectiveness. Each dissolution announcement becomes a damning indictment of the minister's failure to govern, yet mysteriously transforms into evidence of their decisive action, a grotesque inversion of accountability that would be laughable if the consequences were not so devastating for ordinary South Africans. South Africa needs board appointments based on competence, not political will. We need ministers who provide proactive oversight rather than reactive dissolutions. Most critically, we need consequences for political principals who preside over institutional collapse. Until we address the systemic governance failures that necessitate these dissolutions, we will continue this expensive cycle of institutional destruction and rebuilding, while citizens suffer the consequences of perpetual state failure. Board dissolutions are symptoms, not solutions. Without fundamental reforms to how we select, oversee, and hold accountable both board members and their political principals, South Africa's governance crisis will only deepen.
IOL News
16-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
A timeline of turmoil: How RAF's board came to be dissolved
Minister of Transport, Barbara Creecy, on Tuesday confirmed that she had decided to dissolve the Board of the embattled Road Accident Fund (RAF). Image: File Minister of Transport, Barbara Creecy, on Tuesday confirmed that she had decided to dissolve the Board of the embattled Road Accident Fund (RAF). The state-owned entity responsible for compensating victims of road accidents has faced significant challenges over the years, including costly legal battles, internal conflicts, and prolonged vacancies in key leadership positions. These problems are also said to have made it difficult for the fund to operate effectively, causing delays in claim processing and putting additional pressure on its financial resources. Following the Minister's announcement on Tuesday, several political parties expressed strong support for the decision, describing it as a necessary and long-overdue step to address the deep-rooted challenges at the entity. With uncertainty surrounding the RAF, IOL takes a closer look at the sequence of events that led to the dissolution of the Board at the state-owned entity. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading Key events leading to the dissolution of the RAF board 14 April 2025 In a media briefing, RAF CEO Collins Letsoalo denied all allegations related to a R79 million lease deal currently being investigated by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU). He rejected claims that procurement rules were bypassed to award the lease for the RAF's Johannesburg offices and said the process followed proper procedures. May 28, 2025 The RAF Board and senior officials presented themselves before Parliament's Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA), where they were met with rigorous questioning. Committee Chairperson Songezo Zibi highlighted that crucial positions, such as Head of Legal and Chief Claims Officer, had remained unfilled for more than two years. The committee also expressed concerns regarding the costly legal battles that the entity was losing, as well as the growing backlog of unpaid claims. June 3, 2025 Letsoalo was suspended by the Board, allegedly for failing to appear before SCOPA in breach of a statutory summons. His absence from the hearing incited outrage among MPs and exacerbated the ongoing governance crisis. The suspension intensified internal tensions, with some board members reportedly divided over how to address the situation. June 5, 2025 Creecy issued letters to the eleven members of the RAF Board, allowing them to make representations regarding her intention to dissolve the Board due to their failure to discharge their fiduciary duties effectively. 24 June 2025 SCOPA announced a full-scale parliamentary inquiry into the entity, citing ongoing allegations of financial mismanagement, wasteful spending, and governance failures. The Committee also said its decision came after 'months of repeated attempts to obtain truthful, complete information from the RAF Board and executive management to little avail.' June 27 2025 RAF responded to the upcoming SCOPA inquiry by pointing out improvements in its operations. It said claimant payments rose to 83% of costs in 2023/24, while administrative expenses dropped to 17%. The fund acknowledged its long-term financial challenges but stressed ongoing efforts to improve governance, including dedicated ethics and forensic teams and a fraud hotline. July 13 2025 Letsoalo and suspended Chief Investment Officer Sefotle Modiba accused the legal sector, including parts of the judiciary, of widespread corruption affecting the fund. They alleged that RAF had been exploited for financial gain by certain law firms and that this systemic corruption was deeply entrenched. July 15 2025 Minister of Transport Barbara Creecy announced the dissolution of the board, citing persistent governance and operational challenges that undermined the fund's ability to fulfil its statutory mandate. IOL Business Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel
