The metro has promised public transport operators there will be no loss of legitimate jobs when the Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) system rolls out in 2016.
Ekurhuleni made this commitment recently, at a two-day meeting in Muldersdrift, involving all public transport operators from the metro.
The meeting sought to create a constructive environment, open to negotiations, and to allay fears by operators.
Head of Ekurhuleni’s transport planning and provision department, Yolisa Mashilwane, said the jobs in the new system will be permanent and will comply with labour legislation with respect to conditions of service.
They will boast benefits such as regular salaries, leave, sick leave, etc.
Mashilwane said the BRT system is not only going to address current challenges faced by commuters, such as households spending more on public transport, lack of co-operative and coordinated public transport and lengthy travel times, but it will also address the scourge of unemployment.
The jobs created will range from cleaning staff, bus drivers and management, to others.
This excludes the jobs to be created when the BRT infrastructure is developed.
The municipality has committed to advancing negotiations aimed at giving the current public transport operators an opportunity to participate in operating the BRT service, as the shareholders of the new Bus Operating Company (BOC).
In return, the affected operators will be required to withdraw vehicles which could directly compete with the BRT routes and services, Mashilwane said.
“The withdrawal of vehicles is necessary because shareholders should not operate vehicles in competition with their own BRT operation, and also to ensure that BRT fare revenue is sufficient to cover the cost of the BRT operation,” she explained.
The metro urged public operators to view the change as a win-win situation for all stakeholders involved including the public transport users.
“The current public operators will be given training to run a professional bus service as shareholders,” Mashilwane said.
The public transport users will enjoy an affordable, high quality and attractive road-based public transport service, serving the metro as a whole.”
It is envisaged that construction of the bus routes as part of phase one of the project will commence from mid-year 2014, and the first bus will start operating by early in 2016.
