Great North Transport (GNT) has come under fire after David ‘Che’ Selane, a senior ANC member and former Member of the Limpopo Provincial Legislature (MPL), was appointed Chief Operations Officer (COO), prompting the Democratic Alliance (DA) to accuse the state-owned entity of cadre deployment according to a report from The Citizen on 12 July 2026.

Political Criticism And Allegations Of Cadre Deployment

The DA criticised Selane’s appointment, alleging it follows a pattern of prioritising party loyalty over merit in key positions within state-owned enterprises. Jacques Smalle, a DA member of the Limpopo Provincial Legislature, said Selane’s removal from the legislature was strategically timed to allow for the swearing-in of a new ANC provincial executive committee (PEC) member. “It appears that Selane was removed as an MPL to make way for a newly elected ANC provincial executive committee (PEC) member to be sworn in as an MPL, and then conveniently ‘deployed’ into a salaried position within GNT,” Smalle stated, speaking in the provincial legislature after the announcement.

Following Selane’s appointment, several GNT board members submitted their resignations, according to The Citizen’s reporting, though the reasons for these resignations were not officially detailed. The ANC has previously defended cadre deployment policy, with senior leaders describing it as a mechanism to place qualified party-aligned individuals in important roles. However, the DA and other critics argue that this approach undermines meritocracy and has contributed to governance and service delivery failures across various entities.

Cadre Deployment Debate In South African Politics

Cadre deployment, defined by the appointment of party loyalists into public sector leadership, has been a source of political contention for decades. While the ANC maintains it ensures the alignment of state machinery with the party’s policy vision, opponents argue it frequently excludes non-party professionals and may foster inefficiency and corruption. The DA has cited multiple cases nationally where it alleges cadre deployment led directly to poor governance outcomes.

In the case of GNT, concerns have been raised about whether Selane possesses the operational transport sector experience needed for the role, or whether political affiliation was a decisive factor. No formal investigation into the appointment has been announced at this stage. Public attention is expected to remain focused on GNT management and ongoing debates about merit-based appointments in public entities.