COSATU threatens legal action against North West Transport Investment over unpaid salaries

The Labour Federation, the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), has threatened to take the embattled North West Transport Investment (NTI) to court over its alleged failure to pay salaries to its workers.

Some employees, primarily bus drivers, mechanics, porters, and cleaners, have not received their salaries since the beginning of the year.

As a result, these employees took their fight to the MEC for Transport Kedibone Tlabela-Diale in protest over more than 14 months of salary freeze.

In a show of unyielding determination, affected NTI employees recently marched to the office of Tlabela-Diale, demanding immediate action to resolve the ongoing wage crisis.

Speaking on behalf of the MEC, departmental spokesperson Lesiba Mpya, affirmed the provincial government's commitment to resolving the deadlock between NTI and its workforce.

This is despite the provincial government placing the entity under administration.

Speaking on behalf of the affected employees, COSATU General Secretary Solly Phetoe called for those responsible for the dire situation to be held accountable.

“We are, therefore, calling for action to be taken against those implicated in the non-payment of salaries. And that the president of the Republic of SA and Minister of Transport must intervene in this matter. And as COSATU, we are behind these workers. We support them.

“We are preparing to take this matter to court, including the issue of non-payment of the UIF and pension fund. As we speak now, the pension fund and the medical aid of the workers have collapsed. Because the company has collected the money but not paid the relevant third parties.”

The embattled entity renders public transportation services in parts of Gauteng and North West, with some of the employees affiliated with the South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (SATAWU).

Lebusa Mamaregane, on behalf of the affected workers, indicated that their latest protest was despite repeated reminders and the urgent financial distress faced by NTI workers.

Mamaregane further accused the Gauteng Department of Transport of prioritising other companies while withholding NTI’s subsidies, adding that persistent neglect has intensified operational pressures amid threats to the livelihoods of workers, who now face the possibility of entering yet another Christmas season without their salaries.

“This ongoing failure to release the subsidy poses a direct threat to the welfare and dignity of NTI workers. What we want to know is when we can expect the money in the accounts of the workers. We will continue with our protests until justice for the workers prevails,” he said.

Recent media reports have revealed that last year, some employees spent their festive season camping outside the North West Provincial Legislature in Mahikeng.

Earlier this year, the North West Transport Management Department stepped in to assist some of the affected workers. However, this intervention has not been enough, as some of the affected employees have continued to face uncertainty, prompting many of them to protest over their challenges.

Mpya said the department has noted the current impasse between NTI and its employees, which has resulted in huge losses and penalties for the department, adding that the department is trying its best to ensure that the matter is resolved as soon as possible.

siyabonga.sithole@inl.co.za