HAMMANSKRAAL, GAUTENG — The Gauteng Department of Transport has officially unveiled a comprehensive recovery plan to restore reliable Hammanskraal bus services and surrounding areas. The strategic intervention will see the Gautrain Management Agency implement immediate measures to stabilize operations following months of severe disruptions linked to the troubled NTI Bus Services.
Gauteng Transport MEC Kedibone Diale-Tlabela provided a detailed breakdown of the crisis, tracing its origins to the department’s historical challenges with subsidized bus contracts. Appointed in October 2022 by Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi, the current leadership was tasked with resolving a system that was previously performing at just 48% and under-spending the Public Transport Operation Grant.
“These contracts, some dating back to 1979, had become evergreen contracts that trapped the government for years,” MEC Diale-Tlabela explained. Through rigorous negotiations and concurrence with the national government, the department successfully reduced the number of bus contractors from over 70 to 16. In 2023, new seven-year contracts were signed, introducing strict conditions such as a mandate prohibiting the use of vehicles older than 15 years and an 18-month compliance grace period.
Despite these reforms, NTI Bus Services—an entity belonging to the North West province—failed to comply. The operator neglected to secure proper permits and deploy roadworthy vehicles. Consequently, commuters have faced undignified travel conditions, with some forced to pay out-of-pocket for diesel and toll gates. Furthermore, NTI workers have gone unpaid for 14 months, accumulating approximately R224 million in owed salaries, alongside unpaid UIF and other benefits.
The financial dispute has reached a critical impasse. NTI currently owes the Gauteng government R108 million in contractual penalties. In response, the department has withheld R105 million covering the operator’s last two months of claims. MEC Diale-Tlabela emphasized that releasing these funds without guarantees would not ensure workers receive their salaries, noting that a 2024 study by the CSIR and Gautrain estimated it would require R1.3 billion to properly rescue NTI. She also highlighted that NTI is failing to collect an estimated R20 million in monthly ticket sales revenue, which could otherwise be used to pay workers.
To resolve the stalemate, Gauteng is engaged in an Intergovernmental Relations (IGR) process with the North West provincial government. Gauteng has formally requested that North West provide a guarantor to ensure uninterrupted operations on the grant and to repay the R108 million penalty should disruptions continue. The department is currently awaiting a formal response and sign-off from North West to proceed.
The MEC also addressed recent service disruptions caused by a group claiming to represent a new, unregistered union called SAU. She clarified that the leader of this group is not an NTI employee and that their actions, alongside certain commuter factions advocating for the failing entity, are delaying the implementation of solutions. The department continues to engage with recognized labor unions, including SATAWU and NUMSA, ensuring that workers—viewed as major creditors of the entity under business rescue—are brought to the table.
While the IGR process unfolds, the Gauteng government is accelerating alternative transport solutions to provide immediate relief. The department is extending the successful Gautrain feeder and distribution service to Hammanskraal. This model, which has already proven effective and affordable in areas like Midrand, Alexandra, and Soweto, is part of a broader vision for an integrated “one ticket, one province” transport system.
Additionally, the department is prioritizing road infrastructure development in the region, including upgrades to the Soshanguve and Makapan roads, to ensure smooth transit when new buses are deployed. The upcoming launch of the Gautrain Express e-hailing app is also expected to create new job opportunities and foster a conducive environment for small bus operators and the taxi industry.
Reflecting on the lessons learned from the NTI crisis, MEC Diale-Tlabela highlighted a critical shift in future public transport contracting. Aligning with the national minister’s consolidation of public transport grants, the department is moving away from subsidizing service providers per kilometer.
“The grant must fund individuals per seat, not the service provider,” Diale-Tlabela stated. She praised Gauteng’s pioneering model of subsidizing the taxi industry, noting that commuters in areas like Soweto now pay as little as R13 for a 22-kilometer trip. This people-centered approach aims to protect vulnerable, low-income commuters while creating permanent jobs and ensuring dignified, reliable public transport across the province.
