'Alli resigned from Sanral out of choice'

WHILE Sanral CEO Nazir Alli seems to have bowed under constant pressure from the Gauteng e-tolling crisis, the government and political leaders seem to shy away from all responsibility surrounding the chaos.

Attempts to get answers about the ongoing multiple task team investigations into the e-tolls and Alli's resignation, among others, proved to be a tall order yesterday.

The SA National Roads Agency (Sanral) board announced that its engineering executive, Koos Smit, would act in Alli's position when he vacates his position next month.

Board chairman Tembakazi Mnyaka said Alli was not forced to resign, but did so out of "choice".

"The board of Sanral has taken note of speculation around the reason for the resignation of Alli as chief executive officer," Mnyaka said.

"In his letter of resignation, Alli did not elaborate on factors that influenced his decision.

"While acknowledging the pressure on Sanral in recent times, the board did not believe it necessary in the circumstances to try to explore with him his personal deliberations and reflections."

Approached for comment, Alli said in a brief text message: "Please direct your request to the department of transport."

But, spokesman Tiyani Rikhotso said no reasons were given to Minister Sbu Ndebele.

"There is no indication of his reasons for resigning in the correspondence we received from the board of directors of Sanral," he said.

When the National Treasury appeared before Parliament's portfolio committee on finance on Tuesday, members were not able to get answers after Treasury said it could not respond to questions as some would form part of a court process.

The Treasury is fighting an interdict to halt freeway tolling filed by the Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance (Outa) last month.

It only said before the meeting that Sanral has debt amounting to R37.9-billion from the project, and that R21.4-billion was guaranteed by the government.

Outa chairman Wayne Duvenage said whoever succeeded Alli had a huge task ahead. On Friday, cabinet said a task team headed by Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe would look into the e-tolls saga.