Leeto La Polokwane service in Turfloop at a later stage – Muni
The service's director, David Ramakgwakgwa says the Turfloop area needs to be prioritised given the high number of students who stay there.
POLOKWANE – The areas of Turfloop and surroundings can only be prioritsed for Polokwane’s Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) system in the 2024/25 financial year or later.
This is according to Polokwane Mayor John Mpe, who answered concerns by students and commuters employed or doing business in the city and who reside in the immediate townships or surrounding villages.
The Leeto La Polokwane project faces a backlog in the distribution of buses to areas such as Westenburg already, with budgets from previous financial years not having been spent on its planned causes and which keeps the municipality from making new commitments, according to Mpe.
Read more: Leeto la Polokwane central station incomplete after two years
Another reason for the current setback, he said, is that the municipality lost R16.6m to a company that could not provide 10 buses after being contracted to do so.
Read more: Polokwane Muni aims to recover BRT loss of R17m
This led to an investigation and the recent suspension of top municipal officials.
It became evident during the 2023/24 draft Integrated Development Planning (IDP) budget consultations with local communities in April last year, that the bus service is a dire need for commuters who need to get to the city from its surrounding areas.
Many residents said that taxi fare is simply too expensive and that the bus service would bring much-needed financial relief. Residents of Turfloop requested also to be prioritised in this regard.
Leeto La Polokwane currently transports commuters to Seshego every 30 minutes from the city, from 05:00-19:00, Monday to Friday.
The service’s director, David Ramakgwakgwa says the Turfloop area needs to be prioritised given the high number of students who stay there.
“Going forward, we will consider approaching students financial aid schemes for a deal to transport students at a negotiated price,” he remarked.
They will also have to convince the national Transport Department by means of a study as to why such a service is needed, in order for the necessary budget allocations to be made.
Fares have, from July 1, been increased in line with an increase in municipal tariffs.
From Seshego to town or otherwise, commuters pay R13 and are expected to use smart cards instead of cash.
