THE chief executive of the Road Agency Limpopo Bohani Shibambu has resigned - only three weeks after the appointment of a new board.

His resignation is believed to have been due to political pressure.

Shibambu, who had been director and chief executive of the organisation since 2002, had allegedly been at odds with the previous board members after the agency's budget was put on hold.

Shibambu allegedly sought clarity from current roads and transport MEC Pinkie Kekana on why the budget had been put on hold .

Kekana, who was said to be unhappy about Shibambu's insistence on getting an explanation for putting the budget on hold, allegedly did not furnish reasons.

A few months ago the Limpopo portfolio committee on transport intervened and asked Kekana to explain why she had decided to put the organisation's budget on hold.

In a statement, new RAL board chairperson Sello Rasethaba said yesterday Shibambu's resignation was with immediate effect.

He said Shibambu resigned willingly.

But Sowetan understands that the relationship between Shibambu's office and the department had soured after Kekana's motives were questioned in a number of committee meetings.

People within RAL and some members of the ANC who refused to be named, said they believed that Shibambu's resignation was because of "too much of political pressure" linked to a battle for control of RAL.

"Shibambu was not going to win the fight as politicians were gunning for the control of tenders from RAL," said an ANC source who asked not to be identified.

Rasethaba denied that Shibambu was pushed and insisted that he had resigned. He said the new board had been given a new mandate - to tar 3000kilometres of road.

Shibambu, in his farewell speech, thanked the 75 workers he had worked with since joining the agency seven years ago.