Seven months overdue and there is still no sign of Ekurhuleni Metro’s much anticipated public transport system running.
Huge fanfare was made last year announcing the first phase of the system, known as Harambee, as well as opening the R16-million control centre on Kelvin Road in Spartan.
The countdown started as early as February last year, announcing the first stage to be up and running by mid-2016.
However, since then all went quiet. The official Harambee website was last updated in September last year.
Phase 1 comprises a 56km long route from Tembisa in the north via Kempton Park, O R Tambo International Airport and Boksburg, to Vosloorus in the south.
Executive mayor Mzwandile Masina touched on the subject in his speech at the first council meeting of the year on January 26.
“There is a need to consolidate an efficient and dynamic public transport system. Despite many challenges we must applaud work that is underway by the City. The bus rapid transport system is fast becoming a reality.”
He said testing would start in the first week of February and procurement had been concluded for the second phase.
“This system is one of many ways of ensuring seamless service delivery addressing historical disparities which divided towns and townships.”
At the same time the DA raised its concern regarding the lack of progress of the much vaunted public integrated transport system, which is moving along at much less than the proverbial snail’s pace.
Clr Bill Rundle, DA shadow MMC for Transport Planning, said in a statement last week: “The buses have still not taken to the road, after several launch deadlines were missed. The metro has no fare policy in place and has spent the past three years trying to formulate and introduce the required fare policy structure.
“The main reasons for the delay has been the lack of adequate public consultation, stalled loan finance processes for the manufacture and supply of the specialised buses, as well as the failure to finalise the automatic fare ticketing system equipment supplier contract,” Rundle added.
He said the metro eventually got it all together and in November last year brought the item to the oversight committee of the transport planning portfolio for review and approval. The DA rejected the policy document due to the lack of supporting information and the inadequate and flawed public consultation process.
“However, the item was still approved by the portfolio committee and presented to council in November for ratification. It was referred back to the oversight committee by the Speaker of Council after representation by the DA, supported by other minority parties, for outstanding information to be provided,” Rundle continued.
“Once again the ANC-dominated committee forced the item through and at the council meeting, nearly three months later, it was again presented to council. The item was passed. The DA and other smaller parties voted against it.
“The concern over the fares, lack of public consultation, failure to achieve total buy-in from the public transport operators such as taxis and buses, have still not been addressed adequately.
“This is a very volatile industry. It becomes high risk when role players such as public transport operators’ buses and taxis become embroiled in conflict over routes and facilities.”
