NTI: NWPL COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORT MANAGEMENT CALLS FOR URGENT LEGAL INTERVENTION ON BUSINESS RESCUE MANAGEMENT

The North West Provincial Legislature Portfolio Committee on Community Safety and Transport Management, chaired by Hon. Freddy Sonakile, has written to the MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Hon. Virginia Tlhapi, requesting urgent legal intervention regarding the continued management of North West Transport Investments (NTI) by the current Business Rescue Practitioner (BRP), Mr Thomas Sammons.

The request follows President Cyril Ramaphosa’s proclamation authorising the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to investigate the affairs of NTI and its subsidiaries. The proclamation includes allegations of possible unlawful or improper conduct involving the BRP appointed in July 2022, as well as other persons and entities.

NTI has now been under business rescue for more than four years. The Committee is concerned about the prolonged process, continued operational challenges and allegations of irregularities, as well as the impact on workers, service providers and commuters who rely on NTI for public transport services.

Against this background, the Committee has requested that the MEC urgently obtain appropriate legal advice and pursue all lawful avenues available to address the continued role of the current BRP. This includes considering the removal and replacement of the practitioner, or other lawful measures that may limit or appropriately regulate day-to-day control of NTI while the SIU investigation is underway.

“This does not prejudge the outcome of the SIU investigation. Rather, it is about safeguarding the integrity of the investigation and protecting the interests of NTI, its workers, service providers and commuters,”

“The priority must now be accountability, the recovery of any losses that may be established through the appropriate investigative and legal processes, and finding a sustainable path forward for NTI. The entity’s workers and the commuters who depend on its services cannot afford continued uncertainty,” said Hon. Sonakile.

Ends

For more enquiries please contact Ms. Namhla Luhabe on 0795270628.
Issued on behalf of the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Community Safety and Transport Management – Hon. Freddy Sonakile

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