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Public Transport News

Draft Freight Logistics Roadmap promised by year-end

By: Terence Creamer 28th August 2023 A new ‘Freight Logistics Roadmap’ is currently undergoing an internal government consultative process for publication before the end of the year, the latest Operation Vulindlela progress update confirms. “The roadmap will incorporate proposals to resolve the immediate operational challenges while... →

Taxis critical in transport system, but rail has to be the backbone – Cape Town

By: Irma Venter 28th August 2023 The recent minibus taxi strike in Cape Town cost the Western Cape economy an estimated R5-billion, while it also caused at least R18-million in damages in the City of Cape Town, this according to the provincial government. The strike by the South African National Taxi Council started on August 3,... →

City of Cape Town Urban Mobility MMC Rob Quintas

Resolution of taxi strike met with strong collective approval

By: Lumkile Nkomfe 11th August 2023 The South African National Taxi Council has put an end to its industrial action with immediate effect, following a meeting with the City of Cape Town to find amicable solutions that address Santaco's grievances arising from the municipality’s new by-laws, such as impoundment for driving... →

Some Rivonia road lanes to be closed for Rea Vaya station construction

By: Schalk Burger 4th August 2023 The southbound lanes on Rivonia road, in Sandton, will be reduced to two lanes from Monday, August 7, for three months to accommodate the bus rapid transit (BRT) road widening project. At a later stage, the middle lanes in both directions will be closed for seven months to facilitate the... →

PE Car Terminal’s dual ramp operation boosts performance

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 1st August 2023 The Port Elizabeth Car Terminal recently embarked on a dual ramp operation to enhance performance, with this resulting in a 14% increase in units handled per hour (UPH) – exceeding the terminal’s stretch target of 200 UPH. The successful trial with the Hoegh Shipping Line has resulted in the... →

Firm rolls out sustainability project

21st July 2023 Second-hand vehicle buying and selling company WeBuyCars has successfully executed various sustainability solutions across its showrooms nationally, including the adoption of light-emitting diode (LED) lighting. The project aims to promote eco-friendly practices and ensure a more sustainable and... →

a photo of hundreds of cars inside the Northgate Dome which is now the showroom for WeBuyCars in the north of Johannesburg

LED-ING THE WAY The installation of light-emitting diode lighting at all of its locations is part of WeBuyCars plan to reduced the company's ecological footprint

Transport Minister welcomes PRASA War Room progress; Aarto ruling

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 20th July 2023 The Department of Transport is pleased with the progress the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) is making through a War Room that is meant to coordinate the recovery effort of various corridors and accelerate the infrastructure rollout, improve security and give momentum to the... →

An image of Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga

Minister of Transport Sindisiwe Chikunga outlines the spate of vandalism of trucks and how the department is mitigating this.

Cape Town’s Blue Dot pilot offers lessons, demonstrates successes for minibus taxi industry

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 13th July 2023 Cape Town has piloted and enjoyed successes from its Blue Dot programme, which was the city’s approach to improving minibus taxi transportation – a necessary intervention given that minibus taxi services are the most widely used mode of public transport, but experience service quality challenges... →

Photo by Western Cape government
Taxis used during the Blue Dot programme

Dept moves towards implementation of Green Transport Strategy

By: Cameron Mackay 11th July 2023 Department of Transport (DoT) research and development chief director Themba Tenza has confirmed that the department is moving towards implementation of its Green Transport Strategy (GTS), which commits the country to significantly reducing greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions in the economy. “Our... →

Transport sector has role to play in sustainable economies – Chikunga

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 10th July 2023 The transport sector is not untouched by climate change and also has considerably high negative externalities, and this necessitates innovative thinking around the opportunities to renavigate transport systems towards greater resilience and becoming a true enabler of sustainable economies. This... →

Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga

Parliamentary committee calls on dept not to delay PRASA leadership stabilisation

By: Schalk Burger 10th July 2023 The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Transport chairperson Minah Lesoma has urged the Department of Transport not to prolong the process of stabilising leadership at the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA). Former chairperson Leornard Ramatlakane’s release from his duties means that... →

Cape Town mayor asks President to form joint committee on ‘urgent’ rail devolution

By: Irma Venter 30th June 2023 Cape Town mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has asked President Cyril Ramaphosa to form a joint working committee with the city for “the urgent devolution” of passenger rail services to the metro. The service is currently operated by the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa, and transports about 2% of... →

Police, Transport Minister instructed to protect Intercape buses after operator approaches court for second time

By: Irma Venter 30th June 2023 The Makhanda High Court on has issued an order compelling the Minister of Transport and the MEC for Transport in the Eastern Cape to work with the South African Police Service to develop a plan to provide for the safety and security of Intercape’s drivers and passengers in the Eastern Cape. In... →

Court again orders police, Transport Minister to protect Intercape buses

By: Irma Venter 19th June 2023 The Makhanda High Court on Wednesday issued an order compelling the Minister of Transport and the MEC for Transport in the Eastern Cape to work with the South African Police Service (SAPS) to develop a plan to provide for the safety and security of Intercape’s drivers and passengers in the... →

Image of the June attack on an Intercape bus

Evidence of a June attack on an Intercape bus

Numsa warns of possible Gautrain strike as wage talks deadlock

By: Schalk Burger 19th June 2023 The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) says it has reached a deadlock with the Gautrain management in discussions about a new wage agreement that would be implemented from July 1. The union states that the Gautrain's decision to abolish staff cards, which allow workers to ride... →

Govt, business partner to resolve South Africa's logistics crisis

By: Creamer Media Reporter 14th June 2023 Engineering News editor Terence Creamer talks about the National Logistics Crisis Committee and why it was established; the involvement of business in the committee; how the committee will approach its work; and how the influence of business will be managed where conflicts of interest may arise. →

Govt, business partner to resolve South Africa's logistics crisis

Cape Town mayor asks President to form joint committee on rail devolution

By: Irma Venter 13th June 2023 Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has asked President Cyril Ramaphosa to form a joint working committee with the city for “the urgent devolution” of passenger rail services to the metro. The service is currently operated by the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa, and transports around 2% of... →

Geordin Hill-Lewis

Cape Town’s transport budget may see R60m go to waste owing to construction mafia

By: Irma Venter 13th June 2023 With only two weeks remaining in the current financial year, the City of Cape Town (CoCT) warns that almost R60-million of the Urban Mobility Directorate’s capital budget may go unspent owing to the activities of extortionists and the construction mafia. CoCT Urban Mobility MMC Rob Quintas says... →

Some MyCiti projects have been affected by extortionists

Fundamental economic reforms gathering pace, Ramaphosa says

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 12th June 2023 The latest report from Operation Vulindlela, a joint project of the Presidency, the National Treasury and other key government departments, outlines progress in implementing far-reaching, long-lasting reforms, President Cyril Ramaphosa posits in his letter to the nation on June 12. “Many of... →

South Africa's transport network holding economic growth back

By: Rebecca Campbell 12th June 2023 South Africa’s transport modalities – all of them – are currently unable to support greater economic growth in the country. So warned South African Association of Freight Forwarders CEO Juanita Maree, addressing the forty-fifth Annual SAPICS Conference in Cape Town on Monday. “Supply chain is... →

A truck transporting a container by road

PRASA chairperson axed

By: Creamer Media Reporter 6th June 2023 Leonard Ramatlakane has been relieved of his duties as chairperson of the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA). This follows an investigation by PRASA into the misuse by Ramatlakane of one of the rail entity's properties in Cape Town. →

Gautrain to start search for new CEO as Dachs prepares to step down in Feb 2024

By: Schalk Burger 5th June 2023 Gauteng Transport and Logistics MEC Kedibone Diale-Tlabela says a recruitment process is under way to appoint a new Gautrain Management Agency (GMA) CEO. Current CEO William Dachs will step down at the end of his tenure in February 2024. →

Gautrain Management Agency CEO William Dachs will step down in February 2024

User-targeted public transport subsidy to be submitted to Cabinet by month-end

By: Irma Venter 2nd June 2023 The proposed new Public Transport Subsidy Policy should reach Cabinet before the end of June, says Department of Transport deputy director-general Mathabatha Mokonyama. Government’s economic cluster has already viewed the document, with the social cluster to follow, because “of the effects of the... →

19 of PRASA’s 40 corridors reopened but providing peak-period service only

By: Irma Venter 2nd June 2023 The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) has seen passenger numbers plummet from 600-million a year in the 2014/15 financial year, to 15-million in the last financial year, says CEO Hishaam Emeran. He says 50% of the 2 300 km PRASA network was impacted on by theft and vandalism during... →

Zeda cautiously optimistic of the months ahead as consumer environment remains tough

By: Darren Parker 29th May 2023 Despite delivering a year-on-year revenue increase of 20% to R4.45-billion, along with a group operating profit improvement of 25% to R803-million, mobility solutions group Zeda CEO Ramasela Ganda has said she is “cautiously optimistic” for the year ahead as the consumer environment is expected... →

Zeda CEO Ramasela Ganda

New user-targeted public transport subsidy policy to reach Cabinet before end-June

By: Irma Venter 19th May 2023 The proposed new Public Transport Subsidy Policy should reach Cabinet before the end of June, says Department of Transport deputy director-general Mathabatha Mokonyama. Government’s economic cluster has already viewed the document, with the social cluster to follow, because “of the effects of the... →

PRASA not sustainable at current passenger numbers, but remedial work continues – CEO

By: Irma Venter 18th May 2023 The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) has seen passenger numbers plummet from 600-million a year in the 2014/15 financial year, to 15-million in the last financial year, says CEO Hishaam Emeran. Emeran says 50% of the 2 300-km PRASA network was impacted by theft and vandalism owing to... →

Hishaam Emeran

UD Trucks Southern African introduces Croner bus range

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 16th May 2023 UD Trucks has re-entered the commuter bus market with the all-new Croner bus, which comes in two variants - a commuter bus (PKE 280) and a rural bus (LKE 210). With the launch in KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, the bus will provide much-needed solutions to the African market as it seeks to improve... →

Functional passenger rail service will sustain 51 493 jobs – City of Cape Town

By: Irma Venter 12th May 2023 The City of Cape Town (CoCT) has completed its preliminary financial analysis and impact assessment report as part of a feasibility study on the devolution of commuter rail services from the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) to the city. According to the report, an efficient passenger... →

Cape Town to spend R5.2bn on MyCiTi network expansion over next three years

By: Irma Venter 12th May 2023 The capital budget for the City of Cape Town’s Urban Mobility Directorate amounts to roughly R8.3-billion over the next three financial years, with more than R543-million set aside for projects to relieve traffic congestion, R553-million for road reconstruction and rehabilitation, and... →

Putco resumes operations after subsidy debacle put the brakes on its service

By: News24Wire 5th May 2023 Putco has resumed its bus service after operations in Gauteng, Limpopo and Mpumalanga were suspended due to diesel shortages that were brought about by an outstanding Gauteng roads and transport department subsidy. Putco spokesperson Lindokuhle Xulu said the bus operator met with Gauteng Premier... →

Yearly convention will address industry priorities

By: Halima Frost 5th May 2023 Industry body The Road Freight Association’s (RFA’s) yearly convention, which will be held later this month, seeks to attract top executives in the trucking, logistics and warehousing sectors to discuss the industry’s priorities, strategic direction and planned interventions. The event will also... →

Truck Trailer Bus and Bakkie Road Freight Association Convention

A MEETING OF THE MINDS The 2023 RFA Convention will take place at the Fancourt Hotel in George, in the Western Cape, from May 26 to 28

Putco suspends bus services in Gauteng after unpaid govt subsidy leads to diesel shortages

By: News24Wire 4th May 2023 Putco has suspended bus services from Thursday until further notice due to diesel shortages as a result of an outstanding subsidy from the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport. "The disruption is as a result of unpaid March subsidy claims by the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport,"... →

South Africa's only driving licence card machine breaks down again

By: News24Wire 4th May 2023 The Department of Transport says the country's only driving licence printing card machine has broken down again. In a statement on Wednesday, the department said the machine underwent routine maintenance from 5 to 19 April when a problem was encountered. →

Gordhan in China to fast-track locomotives, spares delivery to Transnet

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 2nd May 2023 Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan has embarked on a previously announced official trip to China. He is leading a delegation to meet with his counterparts in the Chinese government as part of efforts to fast-track the delivery of locomotives and spare parts by the Chinese State-owned CRRC... →

Rea Vaya's Selby depot nearing completion

By: Schalk Burger 28th April 2023 The Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA) says the construction of the Rea Vaya bus rapid transit (BRT) depot, in Selby, is nearing completion, with Phases 2A and 2B complete, while Phase 2C remains under way. Phase 2C of the Selby BRT depot's construction includes the facility's working space,... →

Rea Vaya's Selby depot

Intercape sues Police Minister for failure to act on attacks

By: Irma Venter 28th April 2023 Intercape is suing Police Minister Bheki Cele for what it terms the “complete and utter failure” of the police to stop attacks against the long-distance bus service operator. The company has continued to run a gauntlet of attacks in recent weeks, with at least 14 recorded incidents in the Eastern... →

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