Sunday Times reports that the Transnet board announced on Friday that Group CEO Portia would be stepping down from her role at the end of this month and also that group CFO Nonkululeko Dlamini had resigned, effective from last Friday.

Transnet Pipelines CEO Michelle Phillips has been appointed as the acting group CEO, while Hlengiwe Makhathini has been appointed acting group CFO. Derby and her leadership team have recently been under severe pressure owing to the continued deterioration of the performance of the company, especially its critical TFR division. Meantime, several highly placed sources in Transnet and the government are confident that Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) CE Siza Mzimela will be tendering her resignation before the end of the week. A well-placed Transnet insider said it was not clear how many other members of the executive committee would leave, but indications were high that Mzimela was on her way out. Transnet group spokesperson Ayanda Shezi did not respond to requests for comment. According to a spokesperson for Mzimela: “Ms Mzimela is still the CE of Transnet Freight Rail.” All members of the executive committee, including Mzimela, were appointed after Derby took up her post in February 2020. Former Coega Development Corporation CEO Pepi Silinga came in as head of Transnet National Ports Authority in October 2020. Jabu Mdaki was named CEO of Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) in January 2021. Kapei Phahlamohlaka, who heads the property division, was appointed in September 2020. Ralph Mills, CEO of Transnet Engineering, assumed the role in April 2020. Philips, now the acting group CEO, has been with the company since 1999, but moved to TPT in 2021.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Caiphus Kgosana & Dineo Faku at Sunday Times (subscriber access only)

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