BRT system concerns taxi council
Bafana Magagula, chairperson of the Ekurhuleni Regional Taxi Council, says that they are concerned that the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system will cost taxi drivers their jobs.
The BRT system could possibly be implemented throughout the metro, including Boksburg.
It is already in operation in Johannesburg (Rea Vaya) and Tshwane.
According to Magagula, one bus may replace as many as four taxis at one time.
“In this area we have approximately 22 000 taxis operating, so we can juts imagine the impact of the BRT system.”
The council says that it is concerned that close to 20 000 drivers will be without jobs if the system is implemented.
“When the new system comes into effect it will have an impact on our jobs in terms of losing customers,” says Magagula.
He adds that some jobs will be saved in a way, because those that are losing their work will somehow be accommodated into the system.
“Some will be drivers and some will be trained as mechanics.”
Ekurhuleni’s Head of Transport, Yolisa Mashilwane, says Ekurhuleni will go ahead with the BRT lanes, because they want to provide quality transport system for the people in that area.
The bus project forms part of the government’s R4.3-trillion infrastructure plan announced in 2012, which is intended to reshape the country’s transport system.
A Transport Indaba was held on Friday, October 26, in Ekurhuleni, where stakeholders were given feedback on the progress surrounding the BRT system.
