Johannesburg - The chief executive of South Africa's transport parastatal Transnet, Maria Ramos, on Friday announced plans to leave the company at the end of February 2009.

Since taking the job in 2003, Ramos has turned around the once-loss-making, heavily-indebted company, which manages the country's ports, oil and gas pipelines and freight rail.

Portuguese-born Ramos, 49, said the decision to depart had been one of the toughest decisions she had taken.

"I believe this is the right time to depart the centre stage as the company is now ready for change and renewal."

Her future plans would be revealed "in due course." (dpa)