By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) called for urgent interventions by the North West and Gauteng Provincial as well as national government to ensure that the workers of North West Transport Investments (NTI) are paid their long overdue salaries.
The NTI group, through its subsidiary Northwest Star, has been the primary source of transport in the North West Province since its inception during the days of the erstwhile Bophuthatswana.
This follows months of unpaid salaries, with workers warning that ongoing delays could leave them spending yet another festive season without an income.
Workers said, the prolonged delays have left many without salaries for months, forcing some into severe financial distress. Several employees report struggling to afford basic necessities, including food, electricity and medical care.
In a statement, Cosatu parliamentary coordinator Matthew Parks said, “We condemn the arrogance and callousness of the NW Provincial Government official and NTI administrators who have so shamefully failed these desperate workers and their families yet again.”
“It is beyond unacceptable that these workers have been made to spend yet another month unpaid whilst the overpaid politicians of the North West Provincial Government were able to enjoy Christmas with their families. The workers of NTI, a bus company owned by the North West (NW) and subsidised by the Gauteng Provincial Governments, are reported to been owed up to 14 months’ salaries.”
“We are deeply pained by reports that up to 14 employees have taken their lives during this traumatic time for them and their families, said Parks.
“The Federation will be engaging the workers on taking this matter to the Labour Court to secure an interdict upon the NW Provincial Government and administrators to compel the payment of salaries owed to workers, added Parks.”
“We will also be seeking the urgent intervention by the President, Cyril Ramaphosa, and the Minister for Transport, Barbara Creecy, as it is clear that the NW Provincial is clueless and has no ideas on how to stablise and turnaround the NTI bus company. This should include tasking the Special Investigations Unit and the Auditor-General to conduct a full investigation into allegations of serious corruption, fraud and maladministration, including the non-payment of workers’ third party deductions, e.g. taxes, provident and medical aid funds.”
The Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport, however, maintains that it is unable to release the subsidy at this stage.
The department said NTI’s management has failed to meet critical governance and compliance requirements, making it unlawful to transfer public funds under the current circumstances.
Officials claim the bus operator has not submitted verified records of licensed and roadworthy buses, up-to-date financial statements or a reliable employee register. The department warns that releasing funds without these documents would amount to irregular expenditure.
The entity was placed under business rescue with Thomas Samson as the business rescue practitioner – but a court later ordered Samson’s removal.