Harambee BRT negotiations kick into high gear

In its path to improving the transport system, the City of Ekurhuleni (CoE) and local taxi operators launched the Harambee Phase 1A permanent compensation negotiations on January 29.

Ekurhuleni’s multibillion-rand Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project, known as Harambee, was initiated a couple of years ago and is being implemented in phases across the municipality.

The bus system will connect the different towns that make up the CoE – Boksburg, Kempton Park, Edenvale, Bedfordview, Benoni, Germiston, Brakpan, Alberton, Springs and Nigel.

Negotiations for the Harambee Phase 1A, involving teams representing the city and the Ekurhuleni Taxi Industry (ETI), are expected to kick off this month (February). The involved parties are optimistic that they will conclude it as soon as possible to allow the processes to move to other areas in its next phases.

Both parties articulated the negotiations for the BRT projects are vital because its introduction and the removal of their taxis from certain routes may rob the existing passenger transport operators, taxi operators, drivers and all other employees of their livelihoods.

This Phase 1A corridor runs predominantly in a north-south direction – from Thembisa to Kempton Park and the OR Tambo International Airport (including Bartlett and Jet Park). The main corridor runs from Thembisa through RTJ Namane Drive, Andrew Mapheto Drive, Zuurfontein Road, CR Swart Drive, Pretoria Road, and Jones Road. A complementary feeder routes network that will link to the main corridor via trunk stations will support the main corridor.

The launch, held at the Radisson Hotel in Kempton Park, was attended by MMC for Roads, Transport and Fleet Management Andile Mngwevu, HOD for Transport and Fleet Management Landela Mahlati, the KTVR Bus Service chairperson Dr Kenneth Mtshali, representatives of Phase 1 A affected taxi operators, Santaco and other affected and interested parties.

Speaking to the media during the launch, the MMC said he hoped the negotiations between the two parties would be successful, leading to an improved transport system in the city.

Meanwhile, KTVR chairperson Dr Mandlakhe Mtshali said he was happy to be part of the project aimed at improving the transport system in the city. He hoped nothing would stand in the way of the engagements, as that may delay or destabilise the negotiation for the involved parties to reach an agreement within a reasonable period.

Mtshali pointed out the BRT system would benefit all parties, including commuters, affected taxi operators and the city.

The affected taxi operators hinted that among the things that they would bring to the negotiation table was compensation for the loss of their business and that they expected to be considered for contracts and shareholder opportunities in the project.

Milestone

“We are gathered to celebrate a massive milestone in the city’s integrated public transport programme. We may have started a bit late compared to our sister metros, but today we stand tall in celebration of the road we have traversed.

“It was never easy to get started, but together with like-minded stakeholders, we demonstrated great determination to ensure this process gets off the ground,” said Andile Mngwevu.

“When we named this project Harambee, we were never confused because we understood that to realise this mammoth task we would need an all-hands-on-deck approach. Harambee being a Swahili name meaning ‘all pull together’ became very appropriate and perfect for the task that lay ahead.

“We witness and bear testament as we open another chapter that will ultimately see the expansion of the Harambee service along the Phase 1A corridor and the introduction of a permanent Vehicle Operating Company (VOC).

“The 953 minibus taxi operators who subjected themselves to the registration process have partially made this possible. This was the process we had to undertake to identify operators who may be affected and impacted by the introduction of Phase 1A of the Harambee operations.

“We have seen disruptive tensions in some areas because of poor communication and misunderstanding between stakeholders, which resulted in the suspension of the buses. As the CoE we have learnt from these incidents and remain committed to running a seamless service.

“We further wish to assure our customers that there will be no interruptions to the existing services during the negotiations. Once the negotiations are completed and in line with the approved operational plan we will introduce the additional services.

“All the hard work being put into this project has been well received by the public in the areas where the Ekurhuleni BRT is operating.

“In 2023, more than 2.6 million (2 631 124) passenger trips were recorded by the service. This means, on average, our buses made 216 666 trips per month, and these statistics are expected to grow as the system matures and more people start using it.

“The service has been on the growth path for years now, having started with a fleet of eight buses in 2017 and now we have 56 top-of-the-range buses and still counting.

“We are doing all this work guided by the memorandum of agreement we signed with the taxi industry in August 2015. This MoA is revised and updated every three years based on inputs from both parties, which stipulate engagement parameters as the catalyst for the formation of a VOC owned and managed by operators affected by the implementation of the IPTN system within the city.”

Extension

The city pointed out that processes to extend the services to other areas including the East Rand Mall and Vosloorus, are underway.

Negotiations with the relevant parties in the Boksburg areas are expected to start in the quarter of 2024 but are dependent on the progress of the current negotiations in Phase 1A.

“We will update you as and when we move to these two phases in Boksburg. This is a sensitive matter. You don’t just go in and construct a BRT. There are parties you need to engage regularly, negotiate with, and find each other.”

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