GNT leadership suspended amid financial mismanagement allegations
Great North Transport suspended its top executives amid a scandal involving unpaid staff deductions and growing pressure from unions and government.
POLOKWANE – The CEO, CFO, and COO of Great North Transport (GNT), Limpopo’s state-owned bus company, have been suspended with immediate effect following a board decision taken during an emergency meeting held in Polokwane on Friday.
The move comes after it was revealed that the company failed to pay workers’ medical aid and pension contributions for the past six months, despite deducting the funds from employees’ salaries.
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The announcement was made through an official statement by GNT, confirming the board’s action in response to mounting concerns over financial governance, operational delivery, and executive accountability.
Patrick Monkoe, spokesperson for the Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (Ledet), said the resolution followed ongoing oversight challenges.
“During this period, the board is engaging the shareholder, the Limpopo Economic Development Agency, to provide strategic and operational support, including the secondment of interim leadership resources to ensure continued delivery of essential public transport services,” Monkoe stated.
The suspensions follow a march last Wednesday, led by the South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu), where workers handed over a memorandum of demands to Ledet MEC Tshitereke Matibe.
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The protest, held outside the departmental offices, was spearheaded by Satawu president Nthuthuzelo Mhlubulwana, who directly linked the suspended executives to the unresolved labour grievances.
Three days prior to the suspensions, the MEC had publicly committed to taking decisive action against those responsible. Supporting the march were Transport MEC Violet Mathye and ANC PEC member Kedibone Lebea, who both expressed solidarity with the workers.
As chairperson of the Transport and Community Safety portfolio committee in Limpopo Legislature, Lebea stated that a formal report from GNT executives was expected to explain the ongoing delays.
Reacting to the suspensions, Satawu president Mhlubulwana welcomed the decision but stressed that the union would continue to demand accountability.
“We are pleased that action is being taken, but we will not rest until all outstanding contributions have been paid and the workers are fairly treated,” he said.
The leadership vacuum at GNT will be filled temporarily through the appointment of interim managers, while investigations and recovery plans continue.
