LEDET respond to unroadworthy GNT buses claims
The Limpopo Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism [LEDET] have responded to what they say are ill-informed utterances about Great North Transport buses.
On Monday, the DA in Limpopo said they would file a criminal complaint with SAPS against Great North Transport [GNT]. This after what they say is knowingly and recklessly allowing GNT to operate unroadworthy buses.
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GNT reportedly incurred over R15 million in penalties from the Department of Roads and Transport for non-compliance. They also reportedly accumulated over R500,000 in traffic fines, most of which were for operating unroadworthy buses, faulty safety indicators, and expired permits.
But LEDET have rubbished the unroadworthy claims, saying they took pride in transporting the people of Limpopo to their various destinations.
DEPARTMENT RESPOND TO CLAIMS MADE ABOUT GREAT NORTH TRANSPORT BUSES
“The Limpopo Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism is concerned about the ill-informed utterances by the DA Provincial Spokesperson “for LEDET,” said departmental spokesperson Zaid Kalla.
“The Department refutes allegations made against Great North Transport. Great North Transport (GNT) has always taken pride in transporting the people of Limpopo to their various destinations across the Province. The company has resisted the need to constantly increase prices in order to remain cost-effective and cater to the needs of the majority.
“The Department acknowledges the possibility of minor fleet faults, which might at times attract a traffic fine. Hence, there are measures in place to rectify non-compliance and enforce adherence to road regulations,” he added.
“It is further comforting to witness that the fines are neither mechanically motivated nor structural delinquencies. GNT further acknowledges that the fleet is aging and will usually age sooner than that of most bus companies as GNT travels deeper into rural communities for the benefit and safety of our people, regardless of road conditions.
“GNT has a Bus Refurbishment Project in place and is currently in a process of receiving approximately 162 leased bus fleet by end of this financial year while processing a parallel procurement process of 120 new buses.”
