NOT a single passenger has yet been transported on Ekurhuleni’s Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) system, Harambee, despite R1.6-billion already spent on the project.
The system is already 15 months behind in becoming operational, said Michael Waters MP, DA deputy chief whip in the National Assembly and Lethabong Constituency Head.
Waters obtained the information through parliamentary questions. The total budget for the project is nearly R2.3-bn.
“Despite the huge investment into the system and the original date of June 2016 for the BRT to become fully operational, it still has not met the target of making it partially operational (kerbside) by the end of this month, which is a staggering 15 months behind the original deadline,” Waters said in a statement issued on Thursday.
“While no additional money is needed for the BRT system to become fully operational, there is an amount of R660-m in the current 2017/18 Ekurhuleni budget for infrastructure and operations.”
When asked what the reasons for the delay were, Minister of Transport Joe Maswanganyi said:
“The reasons for the delay in making the BRT system operational include but are not limited to:
(a) Delays in the procurement process for the various work streams, especially BRT infrastructure. Currently, the stations, stream crossings, pedestrian bridges and bridges on the trunk route are still under construction.
(b) The slow pace of construction by some of the infrastructure contractors as well as financial cash flow challenges, and lack of performance experienced by some contractors, some of whom had their contracts terminated. For instance, the contractors for some sections of the trunk were constantly penalised due to failure to meet project milestones and delivery deadlines, while the initial station contractors were terminated due to inability to proceed within the budget as a result of poor cash flow management.
(c) The protracted process of negotiations between the City of Ekurhuleni and the Ekurhuleni taxi industry, and the long process of establishment of the special purpose vehicle (Vehicle Operating Company named KTVR), which will be contracted for the BRT operations by the City of Ekurhuleni.”
Waters added: “I will be asking further questions on the BRT system as the most obvious question is still unanswered: when will the BRT system become fully operational in order to provide the residents of Ekurhuleni safe and reliable public transport?”
Twenty-four men and two women graduated as drivers of these buses. This first group of graduates was absorbed from local taxi associations.
When the executive mayor, Clr Mzwandile Masina, and other guests took the buses for a test drive in February, it was estimated the system would be operational by July.
