“The Harambee buses will leave no one behind.”
These were the words of Gauteng Premier David Makhura during the official launch of a new route from Tembisa Hospital to Bartlett in Boksburg in Tembisa on October 28.
Twenty-two new buses were also introduced to the fleet.
“Today is really a great day because I am one of those people who has been asking when are we getting the Harambee moving and when will be seeing the BRT in full steam in Ekurhuleni.
“Harambee, derived from Swahili, means pull together, but its original meaning is leave no one behind.
“So, when the Harambee buses arrive in Tembisa and everywhere they operate, they must leave no one behind.
“The Harambee must be the answer to all our people’s transport problems,” said Makhura.
While the City of Ekurhuleni is working on completing the Harambee infrastructure, it continues to expand the service’s operations.
With 22 kerbside stops erected along the route, passengers can safely embark and disembark the bus.
The Tembisa to the airport route is getting a major boost.
Additional buses will be deployed on this route and the service will extend to weekends and holidays.
The trip frequency on this route will increase from 20-minute to 10-minute intervals during the peak with operating hours being extended to allow for the last bus from the airport to Tembisa to depart at 11pm.
The metro’s executive mayor, Clr Mzwandile Masina, said the investment into public transport was made to transform townships.
He said the investment into public transport such as Harambee would go a long way in changing people’s lives.
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The official opening of the new 28km-long, one-way trip to Bartlett will see buses travelling on the current Tembisa to Isando route along Flint Mazibuko Street, Reverend RTJ Namane Drive, Andrew Mapheto Drive, Zuurfontein Road, and Isando Road.
The route comprises alternatives that go via Director Road and André Greyvenstein Road, before linking at Bartlett and Emperor’s Palace via Jones Road.
The first bus to Bartlett leaves Tembisa Hospital at 4.40am, while the last bus will leave Bartlett at 7pm to arrive at Tembisa Hospital at 8.20pm.
“KTVR Bus Service and the Ekurhuleni Taxi Industry (ETI) are excited that today the City of Ekurhuleni is launching the extension of the Harambee service.
“We stand firmly behind the system and we will continue to ensure that the taxi industry plays a meaningful role in the achievement of such milestones,” said Mandlakhe Kenneth Mtshali, executive chairperson of KTVR Bus Service and SANTACO Ekurhuleni regional deputy chairperson.
Harambee began operations with only eight buses in October 2017 from Rabasotho Hall to Isando.
In December 2018, a secondary complementary route from Tembisa Hospital to the airport was launched and 10 additional new buses were introduced in January 2019.
The Harambee buses transport over 3 000 passengers daily.
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