JOINT STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL

13 November 1999

In a previous joint statement it was announced that Dipak Patel, the Director-General in the Department of Transport, will not be seeking to renew his contract when it expires at the end of this year.

Minister Dullah Omar and Dipak Patel wish to re-iterate that the discussions which resulted in Mr. Patel's decision to leave the Department, were initiated by Mr. Patel himself. Among the personal considerations which prompted the decision, are Dipak's desire to undergo a further skills development programme and to study for a higher degree at the London School of Economics. The Minister wished the Director-General success and happiness in his future endeavors and in his private life.

Dipak will leave office with current effect, on special leave to finalise a range of personal matters before his departure for London sometime in the new year. In this period he will be available to the Minister as an advisor and resource as and when his services are required. Minister Omar also announced the appointment of Mr Sipho Msikinya, who is currently a Senior General Manger (Deputy Director-General) in the Department as Acting DG until the position has been filled.

The out-going Director-General will be joining Rothschild Investment Bank in London, for six months as a member of its Global Telecommunications Team. Thereafter he will study at the London School of Economics towards an Msc covering Development Studies and Corporate Finance. Dipak will return to South Africa in 2001, and possible options for his re-entry in either the public or private sector will be discussed closer to the time.

"I wish to thank Mr Patel for the professional, capable and dedicated service that he has rendered to the Department and the Public Service. His contributions to transformation and the development process in South Africa are also acknowledged and appreciated", the Minister said.

Among Dipak's notable achievements over more than five years in the Department of Transport are:

• the institutional transformation of the DOT from a classical bureaucracy to a leading and capable policy formulation and strategy development institution
• is singularly important role in managing the process of achieving a consensus and partnership with the Taxi Industry; and laying the path for its restructuring, effective regulation, and entry into the economic mainstream.
• completion of the first phase of the process of privatisation of the Airports Company of SA
• laying the foundation for an integrated passenger transport system
• the development of a long range national strategy for transport - Moving SA: The Strategic Agenda

For more information, contact Mike Mabasa
Manager: Media Liaison and Corporate Communications
Ministry of Transport
Pretoria
Cell: 083 680 7048