The chief operating officer of the company tasked with collecting e-tolls in Gauteng resigned for personal reasons, Electronic Tolling Collection (ETC) said on Friday.
"Electronic Toll Collection's operations executive Ben Theron has resigned for personal reasons," said spokesperson Anne Mardon in a statement.
"Theron joined ETC in 2010 and was instrumental in establishing the operations side of the business."
During his tenure, Theron made a significant impact on designing and implementing key operational processes in the customer-facing and transactional elements of the business.
"Ben has expressed a need to take some personal time after having seen the successful implementation phase to completion, before exploring new opportunities," she said. "ETC operations continues to run under the leadership of Mark Ridgway, who fills the operations executive role until the appointment of an appropriate candidate."
Range of experience
Ridgway has been involved in the project since 2009 and had a proven track record leading financially based organisations as well as guiding the development of highly specialised software systems and solutions.
"He has a consistent record as a strategist and tactician, and brings a different range of experience and expertise which we have every confidence will take the business to the next level of success," said Mardon.
Earlier on Friday, the South African National Roads Agency Limited spokesperson Vusi Mona confirmed in an email that Theron resigned.
"ETC has made us aware of Mr Ben Theron's resignation," Mona said. "Sanral is contracted to the company ETC and not to its employees. Please contact ETC for further details," Mona said.
Theron's resignation followed the resignation of its former chief executive Salahdin Yacoubi on November 1 last year. On September 25, President Jacob Zuma signed into law the Transport Laws and Related Matters Amendment Bill, giving the go-ahead for e-tolling in Gauteng. The e-toll system started operating across Gauteng on December 3. – Sapa