Appointments aim to provide stability at SAMSA
COO reinstated after lengthy suspension
SOUTH AFRICA: The South African Maritime Safety Authority has announced the appointment of a new Acting CEO (ACEO) as well as the reinstatement of the Chief Operating Officer (COO) who has been on suspension for over two years.
The maritime industry has welcomed the news of the reinstatement of Sobantu Tilayi in the position of COO – having previously been suspended while serving as the Authority’s longest standing ACEO.
“The Board, having applied its collective mind to the various investigations and reports, unanimously agreed with recommendations of a Senior Counsel and, in line with these, we are pleased to announce the reinstatement of Mr S Tilayi at SAMSA as the Chief Operating Officer after a difficult period of absence,” reads a statement issued by SAMSA today.
“The Board, having applied its collective mind to the various investigations and reports, unanimously agreed with recommendations of a Senior Counsel and, in line with these, we are pleased to announce the reinstatement of Mr S Tilayi at SAMSA as the Chief Operating Officer after a difficult period of absence.”
Tilayi was suspended in May 2021 alongside two other executives Lesego Mashishi and Moyahabo Raphadu. According to today’s statement, one of the cases is currently being heard by the Council for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA), while the other is still undergoing relevant disciplinary processes, with the hope that both these will be concluded very soon.
New ACEO named
In a surprising move, the new Board has opted to appoint a Board member to take up the position of ACEO as a “transitional measure”.
Tau Morwe will step into the position and take over from Zamachonco Chonco who, having resigned, will end her tenure at the end of this month. This transitional measure of the appointment of Mr Morwe, also a Deputy Chairperson of the Board of SAMSA, has the approval of the Minister of Transport, as the sole shareholder.
Morwe is tasked with providing much needed stability to the organisation, whilst undertaking a fair and impartial recruitment process for a permanent CEO and for other executive and senior positions that require filling.
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