With the possibility of four West Rand municipalities merging into a metro fast approaching, residents at the public participation meeting last week said that they look forward to cheaper transport costs.
If Mogale City, along with Randfontein, Merafong, Westonaria become a metro, there is a possibility of metro buses transporting residents instead of taxis.
“Metrobus is much cheaper,” said Aletta Mokgau, a Krugersdorp resident.
Solly Msimanga , Democratic Alliance’s (DA) Gauteng Provincial Chairperson, said that the formation of the West Rand metro will result in increased rates “while service delivery declines”.
The effects of the financial drain caused by the merger will be carried for many years to come,” Msimanga explained.
If you are currently using taxi services to travel in and around Krugersdorp, you will pay R9.90 for local one way routes and about R19.90 to travel to Johannesburg.
Johannesburg Metro Bus fares equals with about the same cost as a taxi ride in Krugersdorp.
A trip on a metro bus from Westgate shopping centre to Johannesburg CBD will cost you R17.90; from Westgate to Roodepoort CBD is R9.10.
Considering the distance between Westgate and Joburg CBD, compared to the distance from Krugersdorp CBD to Joburg CBD, metro bus and taxi fares are quite similar.
On Johannesburg metro’s website it says that bus and taxi fares change according to changes in the petrol price.
Are you a local taxi driver? Do you feel the merger will take business away from you? Or are you a taxi passenger looking forward to a possible metro bus system? Let us know what you think by leaving your comment in the box provided below the article.
