Opening remarks on the Transport Agencies General Laws Amendment Bill in the National Assembly

Madam Speaker, Honourable Members, let me remind the house that the existing transport entities have up to now been established in accordance with various Principal Acts of Parliament. As a result, uniformity and standardisation across entities have always been elusive, particularly in appointing board members and CEOs of entities.

Quite frankly, the Transport Agencies General Laws Amendment Bill will simplify the complexities and delays of appointing the board members and CEOs of transport entities. It will also bring the missing link of streamlining, standardisation as well as allow Transport entities to sing from the same hymn book.

The Bill also provides for the necessary measures for the integration of how we manage entities. It also seeks to ensure that appointments within entities are a fundamental component of service delivery.

Specifically, our criteria for the appointment of board members will move beyond just general skills and experience in the legal, corporate governance and financial management, etcetera - to more sector specific skills and experience. This will contribute immensely towards service delivery.

We also believe that the tenure period of board members is fundamental in realising their full potential and contribution to the entities. The Bill therefore proposes a standardised appointment period of a three year cycle and thereafter a board member is eligible for re-appointment for a further three years. We believe that this approach will allow board members to realise their full potential in contributing towards achieving the objectives of the entities, while the department gets its money's worth.

Honourable members, in summary, the Bill seeks to standardise practises within entities by streamlining the processes of selection and appointments of board members and CEOs of entities. Particularly, it will ensure uniformity in the appointment of CEOs with more emphasis on the consultation between the Minister of Transport and relevant Boards prior to appointments of CEOs.

Quite noticeably, the Bill also emphasises the need to appoint and deploy senior departmental officials to entities - as and when required - in order to ensure harmony between the national policy directives and the strategic objectives of the entities - with a view to strengthening oversight responsibility of the Department of Transport.

The signing of the performance agreements with the entities is also central in the Amendment Bill - which is in line with the Public Finance Management Act.

Honourable members, let us remember that the principal objective of the Transport Agencies General Laws Amendment Bill is to amend the principal Acts that established the following entities:

* Cross-Border Road Transport Agency
* South African Maritime Safety Authority
* South African National Roads Agency Limited
* The Transport Appeal Tribunal
* The South African Civil Aviation Authority
* The Road Traffic Management Corporation
* National Railway Safety Regulator.

Therefore, the amendment before this house included a lengthy process of consultation with all these entities and general stakeholders. Simply put, it is through this Bill that we will be able to set the same rules of the game for all entities.

Madam Speaker, I request the National Assembly to pass the Bill, please.

Second Part of the Debate
Concluding Remarks:

In view of all the comments and questions let us remember that this Bill will transform entities into robust machineries of service delivery.

The General Laws Amendment Bill will:

* ensure the streamlining of the appointment processes and procedures within entities and remove limitations of delivery capacity
* boost the performance of entities through strict monitoring of performance agreements with entities
* ensure the smooth harmonisation of the national policy directive and strategic objectives of the entities.

But finally, entities will have one point of reference in the form of the Amendment Bill. In conclusion, I therefore wish to state that the house would not have erred by putting its stamp of approval on this Bill.

I thank you

Issued by: Department of Transport
7 September 2007
Source: SAPA

Madam Speaker, Honourable Members, let me remind the house that the existing transport entities have up to now been established in accordance with various Principal Acts of Parliament. As a result, uniformity and standardisation across entities have always been elusive, particularly in appointing board members and CEOs of entities.

Quite frankly, the Transport Agencies General Laws Amendment Bill will simplify the complexities and delays of appointing the board members and CEOs of transport entities. It will also bring the missing link of streamlining, standardisation as well as allow Transport entities to sing from the same hymn book.

The Bill also provides for the necessary measures for the integration of how we manage entities. It also seeks to ensure that appointments within entities are a fundamental component of service delivery.

Specifically, our criteria for the appointment of board members will move beyond just general skills and experience in the legal, corporate governance and financial management, etcetera - to more sector specific skills and experience. This will contribute immensely towards service delivery.

We also believe that the tenure period of board members is fundamental in realising their full potential and contribution to the entities. The Bill therefore proposes a standardised appointment period of a three year cycle and thereafter a board member is eligible for re-appointment for a further three years. We believe that this approach will allow board members to realise their full potential in contributing towards achieving the objectives of the entities, while the department gets its money's worth.

Honourable members, in summary, the Bill seeks to standardise practises within entities by streamlining the processes of selection and appointments of board members and CEOs of entities. Particularly, it will ensure uniformity in the appointment of CEOs with more emphasis on the consultation between the Minister of Transport and relevant Boards prior to appointments of CEOs.

Quite noticeably, the Bill also emphasises the need to appoint and deploy senior departmental officials to entities - as and when required - in order to ensure harmony between the national policy directives and the strategic objectives of the entities - with a view to strengthening oversight responsibility of the Department of Transport.

The signing of the performance agreements with the entities is also central in the Amendment Bill - which is in line with the Public Finance Management Act.

Honourable members, let us remember that the principal objective of the Transport Agencies General Laws Amendment Bill is to amend the principal Acts that established the following entities:

* Cross-Border Road Transport Agency
* South African Maritime Safety Authority
* South African National Roads Agency Limited
* The Transport Appeal Tribunal
* The South African Civil Aviation Authority
* The Road Traffic Management Corporation
* National Railway Safety Regulator.

Therefore, the amendment before this house included a lengthy process of consultation with all these entities and general stakeholders. Simply put, it is through this Bill that we will be able to set the same rules of the game for all entities.

Madam Speaker, I request the National Assembly to pass the Bill, please.

Second Part of the Debate
Concluding Remarks:

In view of all the comments and questions let us remember that this Bill will transform entities into robust machineries of service delivery.

The General Laws Amendment Bill will:

* ensure the streamlining of the appointment processes and procedures within entities and remove limitations of delivery capacity
* boost the performance of entities through strict monitoring of performance agreements with entities
* ensure the smooth harmonisation of the national policy directive and strategic objectives of the entities.

But finally, entities will have one point of reference in the form of the Amendment Bill. In conclusion, I therefore wish to state that the house would not have erred by putting its stamp of approval on this Bill.

I thank you

Issued by: Department of Transport
7 September 2007
Source: SAPA