Roads and transport welcomes new provincial spokesperson

“To see a viable department of roads and transport that is able to see to the needs of society and to ensure the department steps up to its infrastructure and road programmes.”

These are the short term goals set by Jimmy Machaka, the recently appointed spokesperson for the department.

Machaka’s long-term goal is to ensure the promises that the department made to the people are implemented according to the rules, policies and legislation that regulates the department.

Meeting different people with different attitudes is what Machaka loves most about his work.

The 25-year-old attorney from Matoks, Botlokwa matriculated from Phala High School in Bochum. He is the second oldest of six children; four boys and two girls.

After matriculating in 2005, he studied law at the University of Venda and did his articles at Mokwana Inc. from July 2011 to August 2013.

As a student, he was very involved in student politics and dealt with a lot of media relations.

Between 2007 and 2008, Machaka was the branch secretary of the South African Students’ Congress (Sasco) in and a member of the Student Representative Council (SRC) in parliament.

He was the SRC speaker between 2008 and 2009, the regional chairperson of SASCO and the provincial secretary of SASCO Limpopo between 2010 and 2011.

“I was exposed to a lot of media interaction and worked with various media houses. I responded to media queries relating to decisions of Sasco,” Machaka said.

Asked what he was bringing to the department that was different from his predecessors, Machaka said: “I will be shining light on the good work that the department is doing.

“There is a lot of public reporting on the bad and negative, and very seldom on the positive and I plan on changing this.”

Circumstances in which people live and previous happenings in the department motivate Machaka.

“The circumstances our people live in determine what could be the solution and shortfalls guide programmes of action in future.”