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The resignation today of Nazir Alli, Chief Executive Officer of the South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL), a mere week after the North Gauteng High Court granted an interdict halting the controversial e-tolling system, is significant.

No reasons have been given for Alli’s resignation and many questions remain unanswered as to his part in the e-tolling debacle. It has been reported that Mr Alli will remain in SANRAL's employ until the end of June.

Mr Alli should not be allowed to take his secrets with him come the end of June. I will therefore write to Transport Portfolio Committee Chairperson Ms Nozabelo Bhengu requesting that Mr Alli and members of the SANRAL board appear before the committee to brief it on a number of pressing issues and clarify the reasons behind his resignation.

Resignations should not and cannot be allowed to become a way of escaping accountability. It is the responsibility of both SANRAL and Mr Alli to impart all relevant information and reasoning behind this decision to ensure that – as the SANRAL board has stated – the agency continues its essential role in operating and maintaining the more than 16 000 km of national roads across South Africa.