The Portfolio Committee on Community Safety and Transport Management in the North West has formally welcomed President Cyril Ramaphosa’s proclamation authorising the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to investigate North West Transport Investments (NTI).
Committee Chairperson Freddy Sonakile stated that the independent forensic probe is a crucial step towards bringing accountability to the embattled provincial transport entity and its subsidiaries.
He affirmed that the proclamation will cover allegations of serious maladministration, unlawful or improper conduct, irregular expenditure and transactions, possible corruption, and losses suffered by the State.
“Importantly, it also empowers the SIU to pursue the recovery of losses suffered by NTI or the State, where warranted,” he said.
The proclamation follows sustained oversight by the Portfolio Committee on Community Safety and Transport Management into matters relating to NTI. Through its oversight engagements, hearings and examination of concerns raised regarding the entity, the Committee referred matters to the SIU for investigation.
“When the issuing of the proclamation was delayed, the Committee escalated the matter by writing directly to President Ramaphosa, requesting that the process be expedited.
“The signing of the proclamation therefore represents a significant step forward in the accountability process and in the Committee’s ongoing efforts to support the turnaround and sustainability of NTI,” Sonakile said.
He said the proclamation provides the SIU with the necessary statutory mandate to investigate the allegations, follow the evidence and, where losses to NTI or the State are established, pursue appropriate recovery measures.
“Our work does not end with the proclamation. The Committee will continue to monitor the progress of the SIU investigation, as well as matters that have already been referred to the Hawks.
“We will continue exercising rigorous oversight until there is accountability, consequence management and every possible effort is made to recover public funds lost through wrongdoing,” he stressed.
Workers at the state-owned North West Transport Investments (NTI) have endured months of unpaid and delayed salaries due to severe financial mismanagement and ongoing business rescue problems.
“Ultimately, our objective remains to protect workers, restore reliable services to commuters and ensure that NTI is saved and rebuilt into a functional and sustainable public transport entity that serves the people of the North West,” Sonakile concluded.
