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The Gauteng Provincial Government officially on Friday, 24 June 2016, endorsed the establishment of a single Transport Authority that is affordable, accessible, sustainable and customer centred for the City Region.

The authority will address inefficiencies in the public transport system and strengthen public confidence, which is expected to lead to more people using public transport in the province. The move is part of Gauteng government’s 25-year plan for transport and spatial development.

Premier Makhura said this was an important step the government was taking towards ensuring that all structures and institutions that give effect to the vision of a Gauteng City Region, are formalised and regularised.

“The GCR Transport Authority must be a model of the kind of formal GCR structures we will create going forward. It will further ensure that our structures are not ad-hoc, voluntary and riddled with uncertainty,” said Makhura. 

The new authority will help redefine the role of the taxi industry and enable the sector to provide a more business-oriented service.

Premier Makhura signed a declaration with mayors in the Gauteng City Region (GCR) on Friday, following the Premier’s Coordinating Forum (PCF) – the last one before the upcoming local government elections.

The premier said the signing of the declaration was an historical event and paved the way for the establishment of a more efficient transport service in Gauteng.

The PCF’s objective is to promote and facilitate intergovernmental relations between provincial government and municipalities to ensure integrated, effective and efficient service delivery.

In addition to signing off on the transport authority, other issues at the top of the agenda during the final meeting for the current term of local government were the integrated urban development framework and 2016-1019 implementation plan.

“There has been a need for our cities to develop in an organised way and the integrated framework will ensure that this happens.”

The Premier also wished all the incumbent Mayors well and expressed that he has worked well with all Mayor’s serving the people of Gauteng regardless of their political affiliation.
 

Issued by the Gauteng Provincial Government