Intergrated Rapid Public Transport Network operations under discussion
The KTVR Bus Services recently held a stakeholders' engagement forum to encourage the public’s participation to share information on issues that affects them and to increase their understanding of how the bus project will unfold in delivering service.
KTVR Bus Service is a private company registered with the Company’s Intellectual Property Commission to operate the interim service of the Harambee (Intergrated Rapid Public Transport Network) phase one, which starts at the Tembisa Hospital and will end at the Vosloorus Hospital via OR Tambo and Boksburg over the next three years.
The foundation of the name KTVR Bus Service emanates from the abbreviation KTVR (Kempton Park, Tembisa, Vosloorus, Reiger Park) and represents the areas in which the BRT will be operating.
The KTVR family comprises taxi operators who are currently engaged in negotiations with the City of Ekurhuleni in order to transform the taxi operations into a formalised bus service to be contracted to the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality over 12 years.
The meeting was aimed at keeping the stakeholders up to date with the project and delivery against major milestones, as well as Socio- Economic Development (SED) enterprise, skills development, empowerment plans and opportunities.
According to Bhuthi Mahlangu, public relations director, the objectives of the forum is to assist KTVR with the implementation of the SED strategy and to advise on strategic direction that KTVR should consider towards community development.
“We are happy that this project has started and we know everyone will benefit from making the lives of the community easier.
“This project will also generate employment for 650 employees of whom 80 per cent will be coming from the taxi industry and others from the community at large,” Mahlangu said.
Chris van Biljon from the Ekurhuleni Business Initiative (EBI) said he hopes everything will go according to plan and there will be no war between the taxi operators.
“We will be at the forefront of seeing changes and development happening in the transport industry for economic transformation,” Van Biljon said.
Wendy Badenhorst encouraged the stakeholders to work hard and work as a team to produce fruitful results.
The next stakeholders’ engagement forum will take place next year January at Emperors Palace.
To be part of this exciting movement and to be part of the stakeholder’s forum, call the KTVR offices on 011 823 1317.
