Great Northern Transport (GNT) delivered six new buses to its Makhado depot in Louis Trichardt on Friday, 26 June, as part of a phased rollout of 71 new vehicles across Limpopo.
A further four buses were delivered to Tzaneen on the same day, following the arrival of nine buses at the Giyani depot two weeks earlier. GNT said it expects to take delivery of an average of four buses a week until all 71 vehicles have been integrated into its operations.
The new fleet follows a damaging oversight visit to the Makhado depot by Limpopo Premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba, during which it emerged that 53 buses had been taken off the road because of mechanical problems, raising serious concerns about fleet maintenance and service reliability.
GNT group CFO Lutendo Mavhusha said the new buses are intended to improve the quality of public transport while providing safer and more reliable services.
“We are encouraged by the steady progress we are making in improving transport services for our communities,” she said.
“These buses are more than just a means of transport; they are an investment in the dignity, safety and everyday lives of our people. Let us take pride in them. Let us protect them. And when we see vandalism, let us not remain silent, but stand together to safeguard what belongs to all of us.”
According to GNT, the phased rollout is designed to ensure operational stability while expanding access to reliable and efficient public transport services across the province.
The Limpopo Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism has backed the initiative, describing it as an important step towards strengthening the province’s public transport system.