Premier Ramathuba dismay over GNT’s dire state

LIMPOPO

The Premier of Limpopo Dr Phophi Ramathuba has expressed her disappointment and concern over the appalling state of decay of the Great North Transport (GNT), a state owned public transport company.

The premier’s concerns followed a recent walkabout visit to the facility, accompanied by MEC for Limpopo Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (LEDET), Tshitereke Matibe, LEDET HOD and Chairperson, Matodzi Rathumbu and other officials.

During the visit, Premier Ramathuba was dismayed by the dilapidated state of the buses and the lack of maintenance.

Currently, only 24 buses are operational, a stark contrast to the expected standard of service.

The premier emphasized the dire need for government to resolve the challenges and find amicable solutions to rehabilitate the GNT for the people of Limpopo who rely heavily on this mode of transport.

“We cannot allow Great North Transport to be liquidated,” Premier Ramathuba stressed. “As government, it is our responsibility to ensure that our people have access to reliable and efficient public transport. We will work tirelessly to find solutions to the challenges facing GNT and restore it to its former glory,” she said.

Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance (DA) in Limpopo has rejected the latest attempt by the Limpopo Economic Development Agency (LEDA) to halt its own ongoing collapse, and that of its subsidiaries, through a desperate and ill-considered reshuffling of board members across entities within the LEDA stable.

According to the DA, LEDA’s deck chair shuffle won’t stop it from sinking, and the party is calling for the appointment of ‘fit for purpose’ directors, individuals chosen not for who they know, but for what they know, directors with the knowledge, expertise, and acumen to govern, not recycled and refurbished failed cadres.

“Shuffling board members of failing entities and expecting a turnaround is akin to the proverbial rearrangement of deck chairs on the Titanic, expecting it not to continue sinking. This is cadre-esque impunity at its most brazen,” said Jacques Smalle, DA Provincial Spokesperson for LEDET.

The DA’s criticism comes as Limpopo’s economy continues to struggle, with the province losing 55,000 jobs in the last quarter alone. The party is urging the government to take drastic measures to address the challenges facing LEDA and its subsidiaries, including GNT, the Musina-Makhado Special Economic Zone (MMSEZ), and New Era Life.