Transport Planning — The Non-Functional Transport System

By Cllr Bill Rundle- DA Shadow MMC for Transport Planning in Ekurhuleni

Date: 25 March 2021

Release: Immediate

There are a number of festering issues within the Transport Planning Portfolio which used to be the cornerstone of the Executive Mayor’s Flagship project speeches, that we now hear less and less of, including the Integrated Rapid Transport Network (IRPTN) and the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRT).

The IRPTN and BRT was launched with much fanfare in 2012 with its three scheduled phases to be rolled out and be completed by the year 2027 — a 15 year project. Scheduled launch dates were announced at frequent intervals starting with the years 2015, 2016 and 2017 for the implementation and completion of phase one.

The project is now 5 years behind schedule with an excess of over R2.2 billion spent thus far. As such, the National Department of Transport placed the City of Ekurhuleni on notice after the DA in Parliament posed probing questions, referred by the Party’s Ekurhuleni Caucus. Thereafter, the CoE was requested to stem the losses, stop the cost over runs and report who was responsible for the unmitigated disarray.

The failure by the CoE to exercise and implement their Constitutional powers to in providing a safe, affordable and user friendly public transport system has had a huge knock on effect on the Residents of Ekurhuleni. The movement of communities to economic and commercial hubs remain restricted due to the lack of public transport. Many of the transport nodes/hubs that are part of the IRPTN/BRT project, now remain incomplete. The Vosloorus and Bluegum taxi ranks are examples of projects that started 5 years ago with an estimated cost of R 40m and is now 5 years behind completion date escalated translating to an excess of R 110m. The Metro is currently burdened with this project to the tune of over R 60m loss per annum.

A DA-run Ekurhuleni will:

· Develop safe, reliable, affordable and integrated public transport systems to connect people with jobs, education, skills training and more. This will link disadvantaged communities to economic hubs;

· Ensure effective planning and reporting checks and balances are in place to provide feedback on project progress and prevent mismanagement with wasteful expenditure and political interference in project implementation;

· Procurement and Supply Chain: Ensure that municipal procurement does not enrich only the politically connected cadres, but ensure competent, value-for-money service providers are appointed who will enable us to delivery of reliable basic services and infrastructure.

Cllr Bill Rundle

DA Shadow MMC for Transport Planning in Ekurhuleni