Subsequent to the widely reported impending termination of the bus contract by Remant Alton Land Transport (Pty) Ltd, the Premier, Honourable Zweli Mkhize requested the MEC for Transport, Community Liaison and Safety, Bheki Cele, to facilitate a presentation by the eThekwini Municipality to the Executive Council of KwaZulu-Natal (Cabinet) on what occasioned this termination.
It is against this background that the Mayor, Obed Mlaba and the City
Manager, Dr Michael Sutcliffe, came to make a presentation to Cabinet on
17 June 2009. The presentation laid bare the fact that the contractor,
Remant Alton was unable to continue providing this service beyond 30 June 2009 due to inter-alia and the shortfall of subsidies.
Cabinet regretted that the service would be halted and that this would inconvenience the workers and have a disruptive effect on the economy already under severe pressure due to the economic crisis. After some discussion the Premier appointed a task team comprising of four members of the Executive Council, namely, Bheki Cele, Senzo Mchunu, Ina Cronje and Mike Mabuyakhulu to help the municipality and other stakeholders to find a speedy resolution to this issue and keep Cabinet informed.
Today the task team had a series of engagements with the various stakeholders in this matter, including labour to facilitate a lasting solution to this problem.
The matter that confronts us is indeed complex and there are no quick fix solutions to such complex problems. Arising out of these engagements we are confident that a solution to this problem will be found.
We call on all those affected to be patient with us. We give you the public, the workers, the commuters and business the utmost assurance that we will do all in our power to speed up this process.
For more information contact:
Senzo Mchunu
Cell: 082 335 6256
Issued by: Office of the Premier, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
30 July 2009
Source: Office of the Premier, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government (http://www.kwazulunatal.gov.za/)
