Pensioners and persons with disabilities to travel for free
Pensioners and persons with disabilities will soon not have to pay bus transport fees, as the Council has decided that they will be transported for free during off-peak hours.
According to the Speaker in the Johannesburg Council, councillor Vasco da Gama, this decision was tabled at the Council sitting held on 26 April by councillor Devanand Maharaj. Councillor Victor Penning seconded the motion and it received overwhelming support.
Maharaj believes that enhancing the mobility of pensioners and persons with disabilities will improve their access to basic services and economic opportunities. It will also improve their overall well-being in the City of Johannesburg. He is pleading with the transport sector and other stakeholders to partner with the City to roll out free off-peak transportation for pensioners and people with disabilities.
Da Gama also mentioned that the Member of the Mayoral Committee for transport, Nonhlanhla Makhuba,was in support of this motion and was in support of this motion and recommended that Council should make a budget available for this project. She also requested that the City should initiate a progressive realisation of the exemptions for pensioners and persons with disabilities on Metrobus and Rea Vaya buses by launching a pilot project in the 2018/ 19 financial year.
The results of the pilot project, along with the lessons derived from it, are to be brought back to Council for information purposes.
Her final amendment was that the actual roll-out of the exemptions begin in the 2019/ 20 financial year.
The motion and amendments were unanimously adopted by Council.
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