LIMPOPO – Commuters who rely on Great North Transport (GNT) buses to travel to work, school and other destinations are set to benefit from improved public transport services following the delivery of nine new buses to Giyani on Thursday.

The buses were officially handed over by GNT, a subsidiary of the Limpopo Economic Development Agency (LEDA), as part of an ongoing programme aimed at modernising and improving public transport services across Limpopo.

The handover ceremony was held at the Greater Giyani Municipality parking area, where community members, government officials and transport stakeholders gathered to witness the arrival of the new fleet.

New buses replace unreliable fleet

According to LEDA interim chairperson Silence Makhubele, the new buses are replacing old buses that had become unreliable due to age and frequent mechanical breakdowns, resulting in delayed services and missed trips.

He explained that GNT had experienced a significant decline in its fleet over the years, leaving some areas underserved.

“Looking at where GNT comes from, you will remember that most of its buses had disappeared. In Giyani, only three buses were left to service all the routes, forcing us to lease buses from elsewhere to assist with operations,” he said.

71 buses to be delivered across Limpopo

Makhubele said the organisation was aware that thousands of residents across the province depended on GNT services daily and that improving reliability remained a priority.

He further revealed that the delivery of the nine buses forms part of a larger fleet totalling 71 buses acquired for deployment across Limpopo.

“We are delivering nine buses now, but the total number of buses that GNT is procuring for the province is 71. Some of these will be added to the existing fleet in Giyani. In total, Giyani should have about 14 buses,” said Makhubele.

More deliveries expected by August

He added that the delivery of the remaining buses would continue on a weekly basis and that the entire procurement programme was expected to be completed by August.

“If everything goes according to plan, we should receive the last delivery batch by August,” he said.

Mayor welcomes boost for commuters

Greater Giyani Municipality Mayor Thandi Zitha welcomed the arrival of the new buses, describing them as a major boost for local commuters.

“The old buses had become unsafe for travel. We have been raising concerns for a long time about the shortage of buses, and now they are finally here,” she said.

Appeal to community to protect buses

Zitha urged community members to take ownership of the new assets and help protect them from vandalism and misuse.

“It is now up to us as a community to look after these buses and ensure that we take good care of them so that they can serve us for many years before needing replacement,” she said.