By Amanda Mbambo and Nosihle Mthembu
A 2017/2018 audit report found that more than 3 billion Rand had already been spent on Go! Durban, the city’s bus rapid transit system that has been delayed for close to a decade. There have been various accusations of corruption, court cases and other disputes that have led to it stalling, but eThekwini Muicipality is now adamant that Go! Durban will finally launch this year.
Some of the disputes came from the minibus taxi industry which, on numerous occasions, has been accused of responding with impunity at any sign of competition to the sector.
EThekwini Municipality says there is now a roadmap to launch Go! Durban and the roadmap includes collaboration with existing private transport operators that include the metered taxi and minibus taxi industries. Councillor Bheki Mngwengwe, of Human Settlements and Infrastructure, said those who have not done necessary work needed will not be part of the new contracts and tender system that will be implemented by the end of June 2024.
“As the city we are working with EMTC, we are clear they do understand that for them to take part in this programme they need to be formalised. Both sides need to understand they will be formalisation of the industry even the bus operators are in support of it,” said Mgwengwe.
A few years ago when Johannesburg’s bus rapid transit system, Rea Vaya, launched a number of buses were set alight. But Johannesburg Metro didn’t give in to the criminals and instead the police had to eventually accompany buses to their destinations until there was familiarity with them as a new mode of transport.
As the world is creating smart cities, efficient public transport infrastructure needs to be part of the plan. But indications are that it hasn’t been adequate in Durban. The city’s public transport problems were on SABC 1’s Cutting Edge recently. It was even revealed that there is a company called eBhodwe that claims being frustrated as non payments so it can fix municipal buses which has brought eBhodwe to its knees.
On Cutting Edge, eBhodwe shareholder, Chris Mngadi, said they found corruption when they tried to get answers. “When we investigated, we discovered that a municipal official was part of EBhodwe without our knowledge.”
A few years ago, there were accusations that members of the minibus taxi industry would forcibly remove passengers from e-hailing rides as they were planning to launch their Yo! Taxi e-hailing service. Yo! Taxi never launched.
Scholar transport operators, otherwise known as omalume, have also accused the minibus taxi industry of victimisation and violence. They also suggest that the crippling of Durban’s public transport infrastructure is because of how they see everyone in the public transport sector as competition and then victimise them.
In an interview with Credible Source by DUT Journalism, scholar transport driver Sipho Mlaba, said he has been attacked by a unit called Hlokomela which he believes is under South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO).
“When we got to a certain location, they didn’t say much, I was forcefully made to sit down and they started to beat me. When I asked for reasons for this, they said that my employer and I don’t know how to behave adequately,” said Mlaba.
Andiswa Msomi, a school pupil, says there are limited buses for children who need them in the morning and that kids have also been victimised when catching buses. “I was chased out of the bus because I was wearing school uniform, I was told the bus was meant for the grown ups. The problem is the people who take the bus, they are the ones that don’t allow us to use the bus. I had to report this matter to my parents and they took it to the bus depot but nothing was done.”
At least one bus commuter said that she is happy with the current public transport system. “I don’t think they is a need for more buses. The time slots for the buses we have are fine they able to accommodate many of us. They do mention which route the bus will take before they departure so people need to be aware and be on time,” said Nolihle Miya.
Sthembiso Duma from the South African National Taxi Council stated that the taxi industry signed agreements with the municipality to improve the taxi industry. “We are in negotiations with the city. We have engaged in workshops, with different operators who we were willing to work with us to better ablution toilets and proper taxi ranks.”
Terry Murugan from the Southern African Bus Operators Association (SABOA) mentioned that they agree with the Go! Durban roadmap. It says the minibus taxi industry will be included in the planning.
The implementation of the Tactical Adjustment Framework is expected to be finalised by end of July 2024.
