Speaking after receiving disturbing reports that at least 14 employees of NTI-affiliated bus companies have taken their own lives due to months of unpaid salaries, committee chairperson and DA MPL Freddy Sonakile expressed outrage at the situation.

“Families are suffering, homes are being repossessed, and in some cases, workers have reportedly died of hunger, while a legal impasse continues to drag on. This legal circus cannot continue while workers and their families bear the brunt of the crisis.

“We insist that urgent measures must be facilitated to ensure that salaries are paid without further delay, irrespective of the ongoing court processes. Workers continue to serve the public, and their dignity must be restored.”

The committee laid blame squarely on former business rescue practitioner Thomas Sammons, whose repeated appeals, according to Sonakile, have stalled progress and deepened the suffering of already desperate workers.

“The entire province cannot be held to ransom by one individual.”

The committee has called on Premier Lazarus Mokgosi, along with community safety and transport management MEC Wessels Morweng, and North West provincial treasury MEC Keneetswe Mosenogi to urgently meet with NTI acting CEO Dr Ben Dikobe and the current business rescue practitioner Mahomed Tayob, said Sonakile. The goal of the meeting will be to devise an emergency strategy that enables salary payments while legal proceedings continue.

This is ‘humanitarian crisis’

Sonakile added workers can no longer be treated as collateral damage of protracted litigation and government indecision.

Additionally, the committee has urged the North West provincial government to:

• vigorously defend the current business rescue process in court;
• pursue cost orders against Sammons to discourage any further “frivolous appeals”; and
• provide full support to affected workers throughout this challenging period.

A formal update on the matter has been demanded within 14 days. “We need to see concrete steps being taken to ensure that workers are paid,” said Sonakile. “This situation has gone beyond financial hardship; it is now a humanitarian crisis.”

The committee will also re-engage with the Special Investigating Unit to check on the progress of a previously referred case involving NTI’s affairs, in a broader effort to ensure transparency and accountability.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi cvs