Rea Vaya: A hit and miss

Rea vaya: A hit and miss

Lesego Maja

lesegomaja@caxton.com

Members of the communities affected by the Rea Vaya Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system are dissatisfied with the way the construction was carried through.

Such issues were raised at a public meeting for the Empire-Perth Rea Vaya Development Corridor, hosted by the City of Johannesburg.

Residents were particularly upset by the lack of communication from the City, before the Rea Vaya construction commenced.

“I would just like to know who you spoke to before making these developments,” probed a Brixton resident, René van Niekerk.

“You mentioned that you want to engage the community but why is it the first time we hear of this.”

Van Niekerk directed the questions to the panel of speakers that included Linah Dube (City of Johannesburg), Herman Pienaar (City of Johannesburg) and James Scheepers (Aurecon SA).

Another major concern raised was the effect that the new developments would have on the value of property. This after hearing about the City’s plans to introduce high density accommodation along the Empire-Perth route.

Pienaar assured the attendees that there have been proven cases of appreciation in property value in cities with high density residential areas.

Attendee, Eugene Smith, expressed his concern over the security issues that would eminently accompany high density housing.

“I am worried that the City is bringing more people in the area when, already, there are hijackings and robberies taking place. Has the safety and security of the residents been considered?”

Scheepers revealed plans to complement these developments with increased security in the form of CCTV cameras.

However, points were made by the some attendees that their suburbs were poorly managed as is, which gives them little confidence in the suggested improvements.

Dube encouraged people to accept that change will take place.

“It is not a question of whether change will happen,” said Pule. “Change is definitely going to happen.”