The North West Transport Investment (NTI) Business Rescue Practitioner (BRP) Thomas Samsons’s attempt to hold on to his position has hit a snag again, following another Gauteng North High Court decision to dismiss his application to appeal his removal.
In November, the Pretoria High court found that was not fit enough to hold the position.
The South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (SATAWU) has welcomed the judgment, saying that it presented a compelling case against the BRP, and the court agreed with them that Samsons is incompetent and therefore unfit to occupy the office as he has failed to perform his duties.
SATAWU’s spokesperson Amanda Tshemese said they were not anticipating any changes to the initial court decision that found that Samsons is unfit to hold the position.
“History has been made once again in favour of workers at NTI.
The court ruled that the applicant must be removed with immediate effect and the case was dismissed as expected,” said Tshemese.
Furthermore, she said that Samsons must be legally pursued to pay back all the monies he allegedly stole from the entity.
“This man failed to pay workers, buses are not road worthy because they are not maintained, and he committed fraud and corruption with his friends and business partners.
He stole millions of rands that were meant to pay worker’s salaries.
Workers haven’t been paid for over 10-months, yet he continues to live his luxury lifestyle.
That man is corrupt, greedy and does not deserve to hold any position in government,” explained Tshemese.
The union has decried the unroadworthy status of the entity’s fleet since BRP has taken over the reins.
“Busses are not roadworthy because they are not being serviced.
He stole more than R150m, and he needs to be prosecuted and pay back every cent that he stole from the public.
In November, the Pretoria High court found that he is not fit enough to hold the position.
NTI is a state-owned entity not his family business, he has never appeared before the legislature to account and take responsibility for his actions,” remarked the spokesperson.
Tshemese is confident that the entity can still be revived, and workers’ jobs be guaranteed under a different management and leadership.
“We believe the money is there, the only problem is that it was in the wrong hands.
Now that the crook is no more, buses can operate and go for maintenance to ensure that they are road worthy for the safety of our members and commuters,” highlighted Tshemese.
SATAWU said that it has a scheduled meeting with the North West MEC for Transport Management Wessels Morweng and Premier Lazarus Mokgosi to discuss ways of paying workers and ensuring the resumptions of operations between North West and Gauteng.
