Newly appointed Transport Minister Barbara Creecy is the eleventh minister in this portfolio since 1994, which is a cause for concern as continuity within government departments is vital, says the Automobile Association (AA) of South Africa.

The AA says the need for an improved transport model in South Africa must be high on Creecy’s agenda, as should efforts to improve road safety.

“Public transport in South Africa remains fractured and largely inadequate and the need to create safe, reliable, affordable and sustainable public transport should be a major focus for the new minister.

“Addressing the country’s rail crisis must also feature strongly moving forward, as this creates downstream issues on the country’s road network.

“Introducing measures to improve traffic law enforcement and dealing effectively with the problems at driving licence testing centres – including those associated with the provision of driving licence cards – should, similarly, enjoy serious attention by the new minister,” notes the AA.

The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) says it welcomes the change in leadership at the Department of Transport, “as this is a ministry that has been in turmoil for well over a decade with seven ministers in the past 15 years.”

“Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga did not cover herself in glory during her tenure as the deputy [minister] and then minister over the past five years, with growing inefficiencies across the department, not least of all being the lack of accountability of Road Accident Fund CEO Collins Letsoalo.

“We hope the new minister will tackle the many deficiencies and areas of concern, and that she will engage with civil society.”