Profiles in leadership

Makaepea: steering SA to the right direction

Ngwako Makaepea’s meteoric career has seen him progress from a policy analyst intern at the former Department of Communications in 2000 to the Acting DirectorGeneral (DG) of the Department of Transport (DoT).

It was not by luck but through hard work and dedication that Makaepea ascended to this senior government position.

He says he saw education as the path to leadership. “It was not by coincidence that I became a leader in government. Getting this far has been a dream that I followed and a passion that I nurtured,” he says.

Makaepea obtained a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Venda, and an Honours degree in History and Political Science from the University of Pretoria before completing his Master of Management in Public Policy from the University of the Witwatersrand.

He joined the DoT in 2004 as the Assistant Director: Policy Adviser and moved up the ranks to his current position. Along the way, in 2021, he was appointed as the first-ever Deputy Director-General (DDG) responsible for Rail Transport in South Africa – a position he still holds.

“This is really a milestone for me because I am responsible for charting the way forward in terms of rail transport in the country,” he says.

As the DDG, he is responsible for providing policy and regulatory oversight within the rail sector in the country, and for the development of a rail regulatory framework, inclusive of safety and economic regulations.

He also has to facilitate the development of sustainable infrastructure strategies and frameworks for the rail sector; provide oversight and monitoring of the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa’s (Prasa) capital programme, including the new rolling stock acquisition programme; provide general oversight of rail operations and ensure coordination among stakeholders.

“What is key for the department is to ensure that the sector works very well and that we coordinate the implementation of policies,” he says.

He previously served as a board member for the Railway Safety Regulator for two years and is currently a shareholder representative on the Prasa Board.

Keeping SA moving

His current appointment was announced by Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula in June 2022.

Because the department is responsible for regulating different

modes of transport, including road, rail, maritime and aviation, he helps oversee the entire transport sector.

“I have to provide and ensure implementation of regulations and policy across all modes of transport, working with the provincial departments of transport and our entities,” he says.

“I always call myself the chief adviser to the Minister because he has the role of leading the transport sector, but it is the department’s officials, under the leadership of the DG, who ensure that citizens benefit from our programmes,” he adds.

Addressing challenges

From time to time, South Africans mourn the loss of life due to car crashes, and this is among the big challenges that the department grapples with.

The National Road Safety Strategy 2016 – 2030 estimates that the cost of road accidents to the South African economy is approximately R142.9 billion per annum, equating to 3.4% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

“This has a serious impact on the health system, social development and the economic productivity of the country. The transport sector is also mindful of the fact that corrupt activities within road traffic law enforcement contribute to road crashes and fatalities,” he says.

Makaepea says various measures are in place, including, but not limited to, anti-corruption awareness campaigns and investigations in collaboration with other law-enforcement agencies.

According to the 2020 National Household Travel Survey, 13.2% of households reported that their most significant transport-related problem is the poor condition of roads.

The study shows that the provinces with the most complaints about the conditions of the roads were the Free State (29.2%), North West (24.5%), the Eastern Cape (21.4%) and Limpopo (19.9%).

To address this, Makaepea says there is a need for targeted investments to preserve mobility and accessibility of the travelling public and freight movements.

“Investment in maintaining, rehabilitating, upgrading and expanding infrastructure has not kept pace with growing needs. As a result, our highways, ports and waterways, airport and air traffic facilities, and passenger rail facilities face growing maintenance and modernisation needs,” he says.

According to Makaepea, transport contributes 6.5% to the country’s GDP.

“In terms of aviation transport, we continue to provide an efficient transport system and infrastructure for both our travelling public and air freight. We have built and revitalised our major strategic airports to cater for the

“The transport sector is also mindful of the fact that corrupt activities within road traffic law enforcement contribute to road crashes and fatalities.”

demand of both passenger and freight movement,” he says.

He says South African airports rate among the best in the world.

When it comes to maritime transport, the department must provide a responsive policy and legislative framework environment through both the National Ports Act, 2005 (Act 12 of 2005), and the Comprehensive Maritime Transport Policy.

“Both the policy and legislation strive to increase efficiencies in terms of our exports to the world market. It is only through exports that we will be able to improve our GDP trajectory,” he says.

For the rail sector, he says the department and Prasa will intensify the implementation of the Capital Expenditure Programme, with a focus on the Rolling Stock Fleet Renewal, Repair and Modernisation of Stations and the Rail Signalling Improvement programmes.

For road infrastructure, Makaepea says South Africa’s road network is approximately 750 000 kilometres (km), of which 618 081 km are proclaimed.

“The responsibility for administration, planning, funding, construction, maintenance and operations of the road network is a concurrent function between national, provincial and municipal road authorities. The South African National Roads Agency as our entity, is responsible for managing the national road network and, along with the DoT, plays a key role in influencing policy and setting standards,” he says.

Recent initiatives

Among the initiatives that the department has recently introduced are the Vala Zonke Pothole Repair Programme, which seeks to close potholes on the roads; the rapid response to repairing infrastructure damaged by floods in three provinces (KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape and North West); the new driving licence card design that complies with international standards and the recovery of rail priority corridors.

With October being Transport Month, the DoT aims to promote safety across all modes of transport by running awareness campaigns.

Makaepea implores public servants to work together across all spheres of government to improve service delivery and to commit to addressing challenges that face the country.

“We must always remember that we are guided by the Batho Pele principles,” he says.