The North West High Court ruling has set aside the bus company, Atamelang Bus Service interdict to give the Department of Community Safety and Transport Management time to resolve challenges faced by commuters using Atamelang buses.
Reacting to the ruling, on Friday, 22 August 2025, the MEC responsible for the affected department, Wessels Morweng welcomed it and directed that the department should speed up provision of the subsidised commuter service to the communities that have no other alternative than this essential mode of transport provided by government.
This comes after the bus company that was providing a commuter service in Ngaka Modiri Molema went to court to prohibit the department from acquiring a new service provider.
According to Morweng this followed the failure of the company to provide the service in the District, which essentially contravened the service level agreement with the department, their contract was terminated in December 2024.
“The Department consequently embarked upon a process of acquiring a new service provider through a normal procurement procedure.
“It was as the Department was about to conclude the process that Atamelang went to court to interdict the Department. This impacted negatively on commuters many of whom are in rural areas who had to endure the last two quarters without a commuter transport,” said the department in a statement.
Meanwhile, the bus company experienced operational challenges which led to the collapse of operations, which ultimately contributed to violation of contractual obligations between government and the service provider. It has been reported that Atamelang buses and the Infrastructure in Mc Van Niekerk Park, Lichtenburg, have been looted and even burnt down.
The department is expected to absorb former Atamelang Bus Company workers and ensure that their jobs are protected as the new operator takes over.
On Monday, 25 August, the department called the operational staff of the same company including drivers, technicians and support staff for a meeting that is expected to take place on Tuesday, August at 10:00.
The North West Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Community Safety and Transport Management (COSATMA), chaired by Hon. Freddy Sonakile said the ruling clears the way for thousands of residents, who have endured months without reliable transport, to finally regain access to essential commuter services.
“This ruling is a win for our communities who have been stranded for far too long. Public transport is not a privilege but a necessity for workers, learners, and job seekers. We cannot allow endless legal processes to hold commuters hostage while livelihoods suffer.
“In a province facing a deep unemployment crisis, every job counts. We are encouraged that the Department has started this process, and we expect it to be carried through without compromise,” Sonakile said.
