These were the remarks made by the Executive Mayor of Tshwane, Solly Msimanga during the official launch of Belle Ombre Depot and Mamelodi routes at Belle Ombre Bus Depot. Msimanga was joined by Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport, Ismail Vadi, and Tshwane MMC for Roads and Transport, Cllr Sheila Lynn Senkubuge.
Honorable Minister of Transport Mr Joe Maswanganyi
Honorable MEC of Gauteng Roads and Transport, Mr Ismael Vadi
MMC Tshwane Roads and Transport, Cllr Sheila-Lynn Senkubuge
Chairperson of the Roads and Transport Oversight Committee, Cllr Elmarie Linde
C40 Director of Regions, Mr Simon Kjaer Hansen
Department of Transport Agencies and Entities
Workers Unions in the Transport Sector
Various Public Transport Associations
Honorable Guests
Members of the press
All protocols observed
Good morning,
It is a privilege for me to stand here today on the occasion of the unveiling of the Belle Ombre bus depot to launch transport month with particular focus on raising awareness on the role of transport in the economy. This will also be to encourage participation from civil society and business to support us in our efforts to provide a safe, affordable, accessible and reliable transport system in the country.
The month is also used to engage in extensive campaigns showcasing progress achieved in various transport programmes and projects since assuming office.
Let me start by first congratulating the A Re Yeng team under the guidance of Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Roads and Transport, for successfully taking over the bus service operations from AutoPax in Mamelodi with effect from today. It has always been our desire to provide transport services to high density areas that do not have fast modes of transport. This is with specific reference to places such as Mamelodi, Atteridgeville and Soshanguve.
In the near future, we will be reaching out to Hammaskraal commuters through the compensation agreement with the Taxi Industry.
Ladies and Gentlemen, mobility and transport is a very critical issue for commuters and drivers.
The challenge of the late public transport impacts negatively on the commuters because unreliable transport often causes our people to arrive late to work. This often impacts on their jobs in some instance result in dismissal from work.
Honorable guests,
We have budgeted R 669 million, R 343 million and R 426 million for financial years 2017/18/19 respectively towards the BRT infrastructure.
R 24 million was set aside for Line 2C – Watloo Road (between Simon Vermooten Road and Denneboom Station). We have budgeted R 51 million for line 2C- Lynnwood Road (between January Masilela and Simon Vermooten Road).
Our Vision is to have a Capital City with reliable and efficient public transport service with lower emissions, where we can remove private car usage which will eventually lead to less congestion.
Programme Director,
The Belle Ombre Bus Depot which is already being utilized, will be able to accommodate 114 buses and it has the following features:
- Administration block which also accommodates on call drivers facilities
- Fully equipped workshop which can service both the CNG and Diesel busses
- Compressed natural gas fuelling facilities
- Diesel fueling facilities
- Bus washing bay.
Of the 114 bus fleet, 40 runs on compressed natural gas (CNG) thus making Tshwane the first city in sub-Saharan Africa to run full CNG propelled buses. We seek to reaffirm our position as a leader in green technology and other green interventions.
The acquisition of CNG-propelled buses for the A Re Yeng fleet is thus a progressive move towards promoting and achieving a fuel switch within the municipal-owned fleet and to ensure that the municipality is making a concerted effort to minimise its own carbon footprint. This investment also acts as a stimulant for the market so that there is wide uptake of the available technologies.
We continue to invest in such Transport projects as the BRT as provided in the National Land Transport Act 5 of 2009 that we must provide uninterrupted public transport services to commuters.
We support National Transport Master Plan 2050 Vision of “An integrated, smart and efficient transport system supporting a thriving economy that promotes sustainable economic growth, supports a healthier life style, provides safe and accessible mobility options, socially includes all communities and preserves the environment”.
In conclusion, I would like to thank all the relevant stakeholders for rallying behind this important transport process.
Thank you AutoPax for committing to supply us with bus conductors to render guidance to our drivers for the entire month of October.
To the various public transport organisations, we say thank you for supporting this project. Given our country’s history on public transport, we are aware that disagreements will rise from time to time, either between transport associations or with the government. We say let’s deal with those disagreements in a manner that puts our residents first and come out with amicable solutions that will not result in violence which often puts the lives of our commuters in danger.
To our commuters: May you enjoy the comfort of travel, reduced travel times, which will, in turn, improve punctuality and safe arrival at your destinations.
Thank you to the members of the media for the coverage and for the spread of word to the people of the Republic.
Once again we say “RE A LEBOGA” Enjoy the rest of your day, and those who will be driving and commuting back to home or work, please be safe.
I thank you