Buscor launches buses for the disabled
Lindi Sibiya, a member living with disability, could not hold her excitement when it was demonstrated to the public how the buses work.
NELSPRUIT – The Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport in partnership with the National Department of Transport and Buscor PTY (LTD) have reached a milestone with the launch of the first of its kind buses for people with disabilities.
On Friday, MEC Dikeledi Mahlangu was joined by South Africa’s first lady, Nompumelelo Zuma, the Deputy Minister of Transport, Sindisiwe Chikunga and Buscor Executive Chairperson Nora Fakude- Nkuna when they officially launched the buses. The day started in the early hours of the morning in Hazyview,where the executives boarded a bus with commuters to Nelspruit. This was aimed at allowing them to interact with passengers in order to get a first hand experience on the everyday plight. This was also their endeavour to assess the state of public transport in the country. The executives spoke to a few passengers while on the bus about the state of transport.
“Deputy Minister and MEC, we appreciate your presence here and as you can see, with regard to Buscor transport, things are all in order, we hope that you can continue to do this more as it gives us confidence in the public transport” said Stela Maluka who boards the bus everyday from Hazyview to Nelspruit where she works.
After boarding the bus; the entourage attended a Law Enforcement Operation in Nelspruit. The operation was conducted together with the South African Police Services, Home Affairs and the South African Revenue Services Customs division. During the operation 750 vehicles were stopped and searched. Two public transport vehicles were discontinued after it was found that they were not roadworthy, Two were impounded, 193 goods were confiscated and 29 illegal immigrants were arrested and detailed.
The entourage then left for the main event at Buscor parking ground in Nelspruit where the buses for people with disabilities were launched. The main event was also attended by a representative from the Office for the Status of Disabled People, Mr. Robert Masambo and Councilors from the Mbombela Local Municipality and Ehlanzeni District Municipality. Four buses that cater for people with disabilities were launched. Two buses are able to flip open from the side and a stretcher comes out and a disabled person who uses a wheel chair can be lifted up and delivered into the bus where belts are then strapped on the wheel chair to make it stable as the bus moves. The other two buses are able to kneel in the front, elderly people and those who are heavily pregnant to be able to board the bus easily.
Delivering her keynote address, the deputy minister applauded Buscor for their commitment in accommodating people with disabilities on their mode of transport. “Today marks a very important day for our people. We have seen our people with disabilities suffer when they have to go to work and in various areas because they were not catered for in the transport industry but today Buscor has set a good example on what needs to happen next,”she said.
Nkuna said that the launch of the buses was a respond to the call made by people with disabilities during President Jacob Zuma’s visit to the province where he came to listen to people with disabilities.
“We are launching four buses for now and we are looking into expanding the number because we have seen the suffering. Our people are being carried into our buses like bags of mealie meal and we as Buscor are saying enough is enough, hence the launch today,” she added.
Lindi Sibiya, a member living with disability, could not hold her excitement when it was demonstrated to the public how the buses work.
“I am so excited because this is my first experience and that I am the first person to get into the bus in this manner I hope that many people who are disabled like me will find the experience amusing because it is obvious that the initiative will really help our people” she said.
