President Zuma will tomorrow, 14 June 2012, experience the Gauteng public transport system first-hand by riding in trains and buses during the morning rush hour.
The President will start by buying a ticket at 6.30 am at Pretoria Station, to board the 07:00 Metro Rail train. He will proceed via Gautrain, the Gautrain Bus service as well as the Rea Vaya (BRT) service, passing stations and interacting with commuters at Rhodesfield in Kempton Park (8:10), Sandton (8:55), Park Station (9:10) and eventually go to Dlamini in Soweto, where he will attend a community meeting.
The Gauteng City Region Observatory’s latest research (May 2012) indicates that 42% of commuters travel to work by taxis, while another 42% use private cars. 6% of people walk to work, 10% use busses and trains, whereas 72% of households live within a 10 minutes’ walk of public transport. Some of the main concerns of commuters include the high costs of transport; rude drivers and passengers; reckless driving; unreliable services; and un-roadworthy vehicles especially taxi’s.
The President’s Monitoring and Evaluation visit will therefore highlight government’s investment in the public transport between Pretoria and Johannesburg, through new initiatives such as the Gautrain, the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project, and the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) or Rea Vaya as it is affectionately known.
It will also enable the President to hear the views of the commuters about the services.
Details of the community meeting are as follows:
Venue: Dlamini Multi Purpose Centre, Soweto
Date: 14 June 2012
Time: 12:00
Media wishing to cover the visit must please RSVP to Hlomani Baloyi at hlomani@po.gov.za or 083 276 1295 / Tshegofatso Modubu at tshegofatso@gcis.gov.za or 083 276 0786.
Enquiries:
Mac Maharaj
Cell: 079 879 3203
