The Motor Industry Staff Association (MISA) has called on the North West Provincial Government to take full responsibility for the challenges afflicting its struggling bus transport investment arm, the North West Transport Investment (NTI).
This follows reports of a deteriorating situation at the state-owned entity, where 1,500 employees are allegedly facing a humanitarian crisis, while thousands of vulnerable commuters who depend on government-subsidised buses have once again been left stranded due to ongoing financial turmoil and the failure to maintain this essential service.
MISA’s Chief Executive Officer for Operations, Martlé Keyter, has urged the provincial government to provide a permanent resolution to the impasse and to be held accountable for its inability to address the matter after years of neglect.
“It is a disgrace that NTI employees cannot put food on their tables and that vulnerable workers who rely on subsidised public transport are now paying four times more simply to get to work,” said Keyter.
The organisation stated that commuters who depend on NTI services bear the brunt of its dysfunction on a daily basis.
“One such commuter, domestic worker Johanna Moleka (58) from Hammanskraal, usually pays R230 per week to travel to Wonderboom in Pretoria.
Since January, she has been paying R120 per day for four taxis on the same route. How will I feed my children if all my money goes towards transport? Am I expected to survive on pap alone? There is nothing we can do,” Keyter added.
According to MISA, NTI employees have endured months without pay, leading to severe emotional and financial hardship.
It further stated that families have had their homes and vehicles repossessed due to their inability to meet financial obligations, children have been forced out of school, and media reports allege that 14 employees have died by suicide, while one reportedly died of hunger.
This is unfolding despite the appointment of Business Rescue Practitioners (BRPs) to the company, who have thus far failed to stabilise the entity.
“NTI’s debt has allegedly escalated from R355 million to R1 billion during the business rescue period.
The first business rescue practitioner, Thomas Samons, was removed by the High Court for failing to pay salaries.
The current practitioner, Mahomed Mahier Tayob, has approached the Gauteng High Court to intervene in the ongoing delays in payment,” Keyter stated.
Meanwhile, the North West Department of Transport Management has indicated that, due to technical difficulties, it will not be able to pay the outstanding salaries of NTI employees that were due today, Friday, 20 February 2026, and that payment will be made no later than Tuesday, 23 February 2026.
This assurance was given during a meeting held last Monday, attended by MEC Wessels Morweng, senior departmental officials, acting NTI CEO Dr Ntlhopeng Dikobe, and the entity’s employees.
The meeting was also attended virtually by the General Secretary of the Congress of South African Trade Unions, Solly Phetoe, and the General Secretary of the South African Transport and Allied Workers Union, Jack Mazibuko.
