Gauteng MEC Lebogang Maile has revealed that the Gautrain has lost five million passengers over the past four years, highlighting the challenges facing the transport system.

Alex News reports that the Automobile Association (AA) has long warned about the financial impracticality of the Gautrain and its failure to serve most commuters effectively. Despite these concerns, authorities are pressing ahead with a R120b expansion project, seemingly overlooking the province’s critical transport needs.

While Maile promotes the creation of 125 000 jobs from the expansion, the question remains — at what cost? The AA believes sustainable job creation should come from investments that benefit the majority of South Africans, not from injecting billions into a system losing passengers.

“Rather than proceeding with a contentious expansion, the government should prioritise initiatives that address real commuter needs. Improving road infrastructure, easing traffic congestion, and enhancing bus and taxi services would provide more effective transport solutions for most South Africans. The Gautrain, in its current form, remains an exclusive service, leaving many commuters without viable alternatives,” the association states.

The AA has repeatedly cautioned against this expansion, and the ongoing decline in ridership, coupled with rising operational costs, reinforces these concerns.

“Authorities must re-evaluate their transport priorities and focus on solutions that benefit all South Africans, rather than maintaining a system that serves only a select few. The AA continues to advocate for an inclusive, practical transport strategy,” it concludes.

Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel.

Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal.