Portfolio Committee on Community Safety and Transport Management Welcomes Appointment of New BRP at NTI

The Portfolio Committee on Community Safety and Transport Management, led by Hon. Freddy Sonakile (MPL), welcomes the appointment of Mr Mahomed Mahier Tayob as the new Business Rescue Practitioner (BRP) for Northwest Transport Investment (NTI), following the Gauteng High Court ruling in favour of the Department of Community Safety and Transport Management.

The Committee remains resolute in its belief that NTI can still be rescued.
“To this end, we will conduct a follow-up oversight visit to the NTI headquarters and depots within a month to assess the current state of the entity and to receive the official turnaround plan from both the newly appointed BRP and the department.

“We note with concern that the former BRP, Mr Thomas Sammons, has launched a further appeal against the ruling. However, we take comfort in the fact that the Court invoked Section 18 of the Superior Courts Act, which ensures that the judgment is enforceable despite any application for leave to appeal,” said Hon. Sonakile.
The Committee has also noted with concern that the BRP is still issuing correspondence even after his removal.

“What is deeply alarming, however, is the information received by the Committee indicating that Mr Sammons continues to issue correspondence to NTI staff purporting to act as the BRP, despite his removal. Should these allegations prove to be true, we call on the Department to urgently investigate this matter and to lay criminal charges for fraud where appropriate.
“We further call on the new BRP to prioritise, within the 25-day window prescribed by the Companies Act, a comprehensive turnaround strategy. At the heart of this plan must be the regularisation of NTI’s structural challenges, the restoration of salary payments to its employees who have suffered prolonged uncertainty, and a clear audit of previous disciplinary processes, many of which were reportedly handled arbitrarily,” said the Chairperson.

The Committee will maintain its strict oversight role to ensure accountability, transparency, and ultimately, the restoration of NTI as a viable public transport entity that can serve the people of the North West with reliability and dignity.

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.

To arrange interviews with the Chairperson contact Namhla Luhabe at 0795270628.