Residents urged to look after Rea Vaya buses and not destroy them
"The people who will suffer the consequences of not having transport are the scholars," Constable Fezeka Khobo.
A great percentage of the South African population relies on public transportation to ferry them from home to work each day. As a result of the infamous Group Areas Act, the Black South African population live far away from their workplaces which are in areas which were previously set aside for white citizens.
As a result, innovative ways of transporting workers had to be devised to ensure ordinary South Africans arrive at their places of work.
Many South Africans breathed a sigh of relief when the Rea Vaya Bus Rapid Transit system was introduced nine years ago to alleviate the burden of transport costs as a cheaper, more efficient alternative to taxis, trains and other bus services which were the only modes of transport available.
Rea Vaya operates routes as determined by their operating licenses, it is an offence to coerce bus drivers to go out of their routes, to stop or not stop at designated bus stations and stops.^ZN
— Rea Vaya Bus Transit (@ReaVayaBus) November 16, 2018
The F5 Rea Vaya bus, which ferries commuters from the Lakeview station in Soweto, transports workers to Eldorado Park, travelling through Kliptown, down Boundary Road and makes its last stop at the bus terminus in Extension Five.
The journey has become a harrowing for Rea Vaya bus drivers who have to contend with children as young as nine years old surfing the buses or pelting Rea Vaya buses with stones.
Commuter are not allowed to order the bus driver to take a different route, it is a criminal offence.^ZN
— Rea Vaya Bus Transit (@ReaVayaBus) November 12, 2018
According to Rea Vaya management, drivers have lodged complaints about being assaulted, commuters boarding without paying, graffiti and wanton vandalism.
They have appealed to the Eldorado Park community to take part, and be protective of the buses and not destroy it because they are the most affordable form of transport for residents in the community.
Rea vaya bus service operates from 5:00-21:00 with a bus frequency of 10 minutes peak (5:00-8:31) and 30 minutes off peak (8:31-14:59), plan your journey with us.^BM
— Rea Vaya Bus Transit (@ReaVayaBus) November 13, 2018
The Eldorado Park police communications officer, constable Fezeka Khobo, weighed in on the debate and said, “An appeal is made to the community at large of Eldorado Park, Joe Slovo Park as well as Freedom Park to use Rea Vaya buses effectively.”
She added, “Rea Vaya management is concerned about their Eldorado Park F5 bus because residents have been stoning the bus and its passengers for no reason.”
Commuters who offer cash to bus drivers are committing fraud, and will be arrested.^ZN
— Rea Vaya Bus Transit (@ReaVayaBus) November 12, 2018
According to Khobo, the company’s management team have reported a total of 49 buses which have been stoned in the area along its route from Boundary Road until the terminus in Extension Five.
Khobo said, “The people who will suffer the consequences of not having transport are the scholars. We need to keep them in mind. As the police of Eldorado Park, if a crime is committed and it is reported to the police, we will have no option but to act and arrest the culprits regardless of their age.”
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