BRT to cheapen travel Paulina Mohale

The South African government through the department of transport wants to introduce a new system called the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system in time for the 2010 World Cup. It claims that this will bring flexible, fast and comfortable low cost transport in cities such as Bloemfontein, Tshwane, Durban, Port Elizabeth and Cape Town.But it is not having an easy time convincing all taxi drivers.

Some taxi industry representatives believe that government is trying to destroy the taxi industry and with it, thousands of jobs. Across South Africa's major cities, taxi drivers have held marches and protests venting their anger around the new system.But Bonice Diphoko, provincial organiser for Cosatu affiliate, South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu) and its Gauteng representative for BRT sees only positives in BRT.

“It's about safety for commuters, reliable affordable and low cost transport. It will create job opportunities. Training for workers is also in the pipeline,"  he says.Diphoko also believes that BRT will end the "long queues that can lead to commuters being affected by crime and arriving late.

"He dismissed taxi industry' claims that they have not been consulted adequately. "They were all informed, they are part and parcel of the board, from all taxi associations in the steering committee, they have full representation.”

  Meanwhile at a meeting between ANC president Zuma, the minister of transport, Jeff Radebe and taxi associations on April 20, Zuma asked for more time for his new administration to study the taxi industry's concerns.

He reminded them that "If you do not want government to force things on to you, I don’t think you want the government to feel it is doing things with a gun to its head from the taxi anger… it means we must meet and talk."Taxi associations in return agreed to put their national strike planned for June 1 on hold.

Uhlelo lwe-BRTYize osomatekisi bekhononda, inyunyana engaphansi kweCosatu, okuyiSatawu, yona ikholelwa ukuthi uhlelo lwamabhasi asheshayo i-Bus Rapid Transport System luzokwenza abasebenzi bakwazi ukugibela itransport engabizi, ehlale ikhona futhi abakwaziyo nokuhlangabezana nayo.

Snelbusdiens (BRT) Ten spyte van klagtes deur taxi-eienaars, glo Satawu- ‘n vakbond wat aan Cosatu verbonde is, dat die Snelbusdiens (BRT) aan werkers ‘n betroubare, bekostigbare en lae-koste vervoerstelsel kan bied.

BRTLe ha ho bile le ditletlebo ho tswa ho beng ba ditekesi, mokgatlo oo e leng setho sa Cosatu e leng Satawu o dumela hore Bus Rapid Transport System e tla neha basebetsi mokgwa wa transporoto o tshepahalang, oo batho ba ka kgonang ho o lefela hape ka ditjeo tse tlase.

Source

Numsa News