Tag Archives: The Portfolio Committee on Community Safety and Transport Management in the North West Provincial Legislature

North West Legislature Portfolio Committee on Transport Management Concludes Two-Day Engagements on NTI Matters

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Picture: NTI buses at the depot

By REGINALD KANYANE

12 February 2026- The Portfolio Committee on Community Safety and Transport Management in the North West Provincial Legislature, chaired by Freddy Sonakile, has concluded its two-day engagements on matters relating to North West Transport Investment (NTI). Sonakile said the engagements focused on service providers who are signatories to the NTI Escrow Account, namely TansNat, Ziggy, and Triponza.

He further said these service providers appeared before the Committee to account for their role in the establishment and operation of the escrow account. Sonakile added that the Committee also received briefings from Mduduzi Sithole, a transport business owner from KwaZulu-Natal who made formal representations to the Committee, as well as Grace Sadiki, former Chief Executive Officer of NTI.

“All presenters shared information regarding their involvement with the entity and responded to issues and allegations previously raised.

“During the engagements, the three representatives provided detailed accounts outlining the sequence of events that led to the current situation at NTI,” he said.

Sonakile said following these presentations, the Committee resolved to request additional information to clarify outstanding matters. He said a final engagement session will be scheduled once this information has been received.

“In the interim, the Committee’s legal team has been instructed to begin compiling an interim report to guide further deliberations.

“The Committee also received an update on the payment of employee salaries and will continue to monitor developments in this regard,” said Sonakile.

He said furthermore, the Department of Labour briefed the Committee on the outcomes of its investigation, while the Hawks provided an update on the status of cases opened relating to NTI. Sonakile said in order to ensure a comprehensive and fair process, the Committee will convene an additional session to engage other stakeholders who have played a key role in the operations and future of the entity.

“As the Committee does not exercise direct oversight over the Gauteng Department, it will formally request the assistance of its Gauteng counterpart to ensure that the relevant authorities provide outstanding information and engage on subsidy and related matters.

“The Portfolio Committee remains committed to exercising rigorous oversight and ensuring accountability, transparency, and stability at NTI, in the interest of workers, service providers, and the broader public,” he said.

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Committee raises concerns over lack of passenger liability insurance regarding scholar transport

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Picture: The Chairperson of Portfolio Committee on Community Safety and Transport Management in the North West Provincial Legislature, Freddy Sonakile

By OBAKENG MAJE

13 February 2025- The Portfolio Committee on Community Safety and Transport Management in the North West Provincial Legislature, conducted an unannounced oversight visit at Moreri Secondary School in Tseoge village, near Ganyesa. The committe’s visited the school to assess scholar transport operations as part of the Oversight Week that the North West Provincial Legislature is currently embarking on in the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District.

During the engagement, the Chairperson of the Committee, Freddy Sonakile said they were informed of a tragic incident in October 2024, where a Grade 10 learner lost his life while attempting to board a scholar transport bus. Sonakile said the committee was concerned to learn that no psychological support had been provided to the school following the incident.

“Additionally, serious concerns were raised about passenger liability insurance as it was alleged that neither the North West Department of Community Safety and Transport Management (CoSaTMa) nor the Department of Education had provided any support to the learner’s family.

“Children remain the responsibility of the department, while commuting in scholar transport. When accidents occur, the department, as the custodian of the program, must take full responsibility,” he said.

Sonakile further said the committie will engage the North West MEC for the Department of Community Safety and Transport Management, Wessels Morweng, to revisit this case and assess the department’s response to similar incidents. He added that, a formal request will be made by the committee to solicit a  comprehensive report on scholar transport compliance across the province, including proof of passenger liability insurance for all service providers, as this is a mandatory requirement for operating within the program.

“The committee has repeatedly urged the department to exercise due diligence in awarding scholar transport contracts. Service providers operating without the necessary documentation are a direct liability and the department will be held accountable.

“The era of placing learners’ lives at risk is over. We have extensively engaged the department on scholar transport issues and adopted clear resolutions. Any continued non-compliance, without consequence, signals complicity  which will be treated as contempt of the Legislature and dealt with accordingly.” said Sonakile.

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