Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson has appointed attorney Matodzi Ratshimbilani and public law expert Derek Naidoo to the board of the Independent Development Trust (IDT), in line with the powers vested in him by the IDT’s Deed of Trust.

They replace the two previous Ministerial appointees, with Macpherson noting that these new appointments will contribute to strengthening governance at the IDT.

He now awaits trustee recommendations from the board to fill the remaining vacancies, as required by the Deed of Trust.

Ratshimbilani, who holds a B Proc from the University of Limpopo (formerly the University of the North) and a Certificate in Business Management from the University of Johannesburg, has over 25 years of experience as a legal practitioner.

He has worked for several State-owned entities, including Eskom, the South African Broadcasting Corporation and the Industrial Development Corporation.

Additionally, he has served on the boards of the State Information Technology Agency, Kouga Wind Farm Community Development Trust and the Railway Safety Regulator, among others.

Naidoo holds an LLB from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (formerly the University of Durban-Westville) and a Certificate in Project Management.

He served as deputy city manager within the eThekwini municipality for ten years, overseeing infrastructure projects worth R50-billion across various sectors, including water and sanitation, electricity, transport, housing, solid waste, and procurement.

Naidoo has also previously served as the deputy chairperson of the Labour Relations Committee of the South African Local Government Association.

“The high calibre of these Ministerial appointments to the IDT board reflects our commitment to strengthening governance at this critical agency and restoring stability following a series of serious public allegations. The IDT plays a crucial role in delivering social infrastructure across the country, and it is imperative that it has a well-functioning board to execute its mandate effectively,” Macpherson says.

“I look forward to these Ministerial appointees enhancing transparency within the organisation so that we can urgently address any concerns. Furthermore, they are tasked with finalising the outstanding financial statements of the agency, which have yet to be submitted for the past financial year,” he informs.

These appointments align with other interventions to address governance concerns at the IDT, including an independent PwC investigation.

The investigation, set to conclude within eight weeks, will specifically examine the circumstances surrounding the PSY Oxygen Plant tender, in which two contractors were appointed despite lacking South African Health Products Regulatory Authority registration.