By BAKANG MOKOTO
25 August 2025- The North West Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Community Safety and Transport Management (COSATMA), welcomes the judgment delivered on Friday by the North West Division of the High Court, which set aside the interdict obtained by Atamelang Bus Company. The Committee said the interdict had delayed the North West Department of Community Safety and Transport Management from appointing a new service provider to restore commuter bus services in the Ngaka Modiri Molema District.
The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee, Freddy Sonakile said this ruling clears the way for thousands of residents, who have endured months without reliable transport, to finally regain access to essential commuter services.
Sonakile, hailed the judgment as a victory for ordinary people: “This ruling is a win for our communities who have been stranded for far too long. Public transport is not a privilege but a necessity for workers, learners, and job seekers.
“We cannot allow endless legal processes to hold commuters hostage while livelihoods suffer.”
He further said the Committee welcomes the assurance by the North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Wessels Morweng that services will resume within seven days, as preparations by the department had already been well advanced before the interdict.
“Importantly, the department has already begun implementing the Committee’s resolution on the absorption of former Atamelang Bus Company workers, ensuring that their jobs and livelihoods are protected as the new operator takes over.
“In a province facing a deep unemployment crisis, every job counts. We are encouraged that the Department has started this process, and we expect it to be carried through without compromise,” he said.
Sonakile added that to strengthen its oversight, the Committee will also formally request a copy of the Service Level Agreement (SLA) of the new service provider, setting out contractual obligations, performance standards, and accountability mechanisms. He said this will enable the Committee to monitor the operator closely and ensure commuters receive safe, reliable, and sustainable transport services.
Sonakile concluded: “Our residents must never again be subjected to unnecessary suffering because of legal disputes without proper alternatives in place.
“This judgment marks a new beginning, but our oversight continues to ensure that promises translate into action.”
The Guardian 