SEKHUKHUNE
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in Sekhukhune Region has raised serious concerns over the recent allocation of Great North Transport (GNT) buses to the Sekhukhune District Municipality (SDM), questioning the transparency and fairness of the process.
This is after GNT, which is currently operating with over 540 buses across Limpopo province, recently awarded tenders and entered into leases of hiring privately owned buses in the province.
According to Ali Maloba, an EFF Councillor in SDM, several discrepancies have been identified that suggest local taxi associations and Small, Medium, and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) were excluded from the process.
“We are calling for transparency and black economic empowerment in the allocation process,” he said.
Maloba stated that it is evident that 80% of GNT buses might be privately owned, and the Sekhukhune business community was never consulted.
“We are concerned that Sekhukhune based taxi associations and SMMEs were not involved in the allocation process. All allocated buses are not new, indicating private ownership. Some original stickers were removed, raising questions about the buses’ operational history. Sekhukhune bus owners were not even afforded the opportunity to participate in the allocation,” he said.
Maloba added that it raises more questions that some buses are not branded, further fuelling suspicions about private ownership.
“The second-hand buses allocated for Sekhukhune could have been provided by local SMMEs or bus operators. Why were they not afforded the opportunity to grow?” he asked.
Maloba emphasized that the era requires celebrating black economic empowerment, not just allocating buses without involving local communities. “The time for Great North Transport to recognize Sekhukhune local transport operators is now,” he said.
Maloba concluded by questioning the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by GNT and other relevant parties, calling for its publication.
He also highlighted that other entities, such as Putco and Lerimar Group, have afforded local operators and taxi associations opportunities.
“It’s time for Great North Transport to do the same,” he said.
At the time of going to press, the Limpopo Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (LEDET), could not respond to the publication’s enquiries.