Transport Minister Blade Nzimande has appointed a new interim board at the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa).

The Minister’s decision comes after the resignation of former interim board chairperson Tintswalo Makhubele last month.

Nzimande, in a statement issued recently, said that the board was carefully selected on the basis of skills and expertise required to run a company of this magnitude.

The new board, which is expected to serve for 12 months, will be chaired by businesswoman Khanyisile Kweyama and she will be joined by Sango Ntsaluba, Louis Wessie, Jenny Schreiner, Nazir Alli, Doris Tshepe and Mashila Matlala.

According to Nzimande the new board’s skills set include among others the technical, corporate governance, legal, finance, risk management and human resources.

Nzimande also appointed Dr Simo Lushaba as the acting group CEO of Prasa. The changes are a part of an ongoing plan by government to turn state owned entities around.