31 August 1999
Dear Colleagues,
The Minister of Transport, Dullah Omar and the Director-General, Dipak Patel jointly announced today that the current contract of the Director-General will not be renewed when it expires on 31 December 1999. The decision was reached after discussions, at the request of Mr Patel.
Mr Patel will be undertaking a programme of further skills development and studies in the areas of corporate finance, investment banking and project finance, possibly in London. Future deployment and re-entry into the private or public sector upon Mr Patel's return to South Africa will be discussed in the future.
Mr Dipak Patel joined the Department in 1994, and held the positions of Chief Director: Management Services, Chairperson: National Task Team and Deputy Director-General over the initial period, before being promoted to his current position. He has been instrumental in the process of restructuring the Department of Transport, managing various Public-Private Partnership projects in infrastructure development and outsourcing and has been central to the minibus taxi industry restructuring and formalisation process.
Minister Omar expressed his appreciation for the role that Mr Patel played in the development of policy and strategy in the Department, and his successful implementation of many path-breaking projects.
Issued by
MIKE MABASA
MEDIA LIAISON OFFICER
Tel: (012) 309 3131. Fax (012) 328 3194
Tel: (021) 465 7260. Fax (021) 461 6845
e-mail: mabasam@ndot.pwv.gov.za
cell: 083 680 7048