Mayoral candidate takes bus trip
DA mayoral candidate takes a bus trip to experience the service firsthand.
David Matsena
DA mayoral candidate for Tshwane metro, Solly Msimanga, took a ride on Tuesday morning using Tshwane bus services to experience the service firsthand.
“There is a lot of work waiting for us when we take over the metro next year, so we need to get a feel and experience what residents are going through every day so we know where to start,” said Msimanga.
Msimanga, accompanied by spokesperson for roads and transport, Francois Bekker, used the opportunity to engage with commuters.
Msimanga said the bus ride was part of his party’s November month theme, transport.
After listening to comments and complaints from commuters, Msimanga said the DA wanted a card system to which commuters can load money and use as needed.
“Then drivers do not have to work with cash and commuters will not lose money in the event of strikes for example,” he said.
“Ticket offices must be situated in various places all over the city and clearly branded. Commuters should be able to buy tickets at ATMs and via internet.”
He said chronic service woes had led to a breakdown in the bus service and commuter relations.
He said the DA would propose free rides for a month to compensate for the poor service during the strike in October.
“We further demand a turnaround strategy to address the problems mentioned above,” he said.
He said the DA wanted to extend the service to cover areas such as Ga-Rankuwa, Mabopane, Soshanguve, Atteridgeville, Hammanskraal and Mamelodi.
“The metro should investigate the issue of fake tickets and look into the possibility of expanding the fleet,” he said.
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