The African Rail Industry Association – ARIA has called for specialists fit for purpose to occupy executive positions at Transnet. The organisation is an industry representative body operating under the National Railways Safety Regulator Act and a key sector in driving economic growth and integration on the continent. Transnet has seen resignations of key executive members including its Group CEO Portia Derby and CFO Nonkululeko Dlamini as well as CEO of Transnet Freight Rail Siza Mzimela. The freight and rail state-owned entity has also seen its former chairperson Popo Molefe resign as a member of the board. Developments at Transnet have prompted calls by the Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe for an investigation into what he describes as the exodus of executives at state-owned entities.