North West Legislature Portfolio Committee on Community Safety and Transport Management Welcomes Court Victory and Resolution on NTI Employee Salaries

The North West Legislature Portfolio Committee on Community Safety and Transport Management (COSATMA) led by Hon Freddy Sonakile welcomes the High Court ruling made on Thursday, 21 November 2024, to remove Mr. Thomas Samons as the Business Rescue Practitioner (BRP) for the North West Transport Investment (NTI), and the order to both Mr Samons and Tansnat to jointly pay legal costs of the department.

This follows a three(3)-days oversight visit that the Committee’s conducted early in October 2024 at the NTI offices and had its findings presented on a preliminary report during a media briefing held on the 10 October 2024 in the Matlosana Local Municipality. The report revealed serious allegations of mismanagement at NTI. In response, the Committee engaged multiple stakeholders, including the Special Investigative Unit (SIU), Hawks, Department of Labour and Employment, and the Auditor-General of South Africa, to investigate these allegations.

The Chairperson of the committee also appreciates efforts taken by the Premier of the North West province, Premier Lazarus Mokgosi for the swift response to the Committee’s recommendations, in spearheading efforts to resolve months of unpaid salaries to NTI employees.
“We also welcome the collaboration of COSATMA and Provincial Treasury to include the funding of overdue salaries of NTI employees on the Provincial Adjustment Budget tabled today by MEC Keneetswe Mosenogi,” said Hon Sonakile.

The Committee recommended that COSATMA verify employees and their contributions before processing payments to avoid mismanagement. This verification process is set to begin next week.
The Committee further commends COSATMA for taking decisive legal action against the BRP and implementing the recommendations of the Committee. The Committee will continue monitoring the process of revival of NTI to ensure profitability and improved accountability.

Ends

Issued by: North West Provincial Legislature: Media & Communications Unit on behalf of the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Community Safety and Transport Management – Hon Freddy Sonakile