Bus crisis hurts 2010 credibility

Johannesburg - From a logistical viewpoint it's no disaster that the government's Johannesburg Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system is not prepared for the Confederations Cup soccer tournament which starts in 19 days.

But it is certainly a blow to confidence in government's ability to deliver and meet its commitments with an view to the 2010 World Cup soccer tournament.

This sentiment is evident from discussions with leaders in the tourism industry.

Sibongile Mazibuko, manager of 2010 projects at the Johannesburg Metro Council, remarked at the recent tourism indaba that the infrastructure for the bus service would be ready, but its operation will depend on agreement with dissatisfied taxi owners. These negotiations are apparently in government's hands.

Martin Wiest, the chief executive of Tourvest's inward operations, says the Confederations Cup tournament attracts fewer foreign visitors and is much smaller than the World Cup tournament which will take place next year.

Tourvest will be handling about 7 000 visitors during the Confederations Cup matches. These include delegations from sponsors such as MTN, Adidas and Coca-Cola South Africa.

The company makes use of buses it hires from Mega Coach and Unitrans.

Tourism expert Gillian Saunders at Grant Thornton reckons the Confederations Cup tournament is smaller than either the Indian Premier League tournament or the Lions Rugby Tour.

She comments that if the system is not ready this will dent confidence in government's ability to meet its commitments for the 2010 World Cup itself.

Last Friday the South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) consulted S'bu Ndebele, the new Minister of Transport, after he had been asked by President Jacob Zuma to forge links with the taxi industry.

Philip Taaibosch, secretary general for Santaco, says there have been no new developments, but Ndebele has agreed to a meeting much like that at which Zuma addressed the taxi industry before the elections to communicate at a "grass roots" level.

At this Santaco gathering on April 20, Zuma requested that all operational plans for the rapid bus system be set aside for the interim.

Taaibosch says the meeting is expected to take place in June. The Confederations Cup tournament begins on June 14 and lasts two weeks.

"Whether or not the Bus Rapid Transit system will ever get off the ground, we don't know. The taxi industry has never been against the idea of a new public transport system but this, the unhappiness, is merely because we were never consulted in the matter," he said.

- Sake24

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