Spokesperson, Qondile Khedama, says the metro entered into an agreement with the taxi industry regarding the introduction of the Integrated Public Transport Network (IPTN), refuting reports that the taxi industry is opposed to the system. Khedama says the metro is continuously engaging taxi owners and the industry at large on a monthly basis, adding there is a Joint Technical Committee – including taxi leadership - on the matter. 

While the metro insists that the taxi industry is all in for the IPTN, reports indicate the opposite.

About two months ago, at the Free State leg of the Competition Commission’s Market Inquiry into land-based transport at Ilanga Estate, the Free State Taxi Industry was adamant that the introduction of the BRT system will affect them negatively. 

Chairperson of the Greater Bloemfontein Taxi Association, Leemisa Seloane, told OFM News at the time the government has not consulted the industry on the system, alleging that they were instead given an ultimatum, “it’s either you are in or out”, he said. He says they were not even consulted on a compensation model for the introduction of the system.

Seloane gave a passionate testimony at the Inquiry in which he told those present that his father raised him with taxi money and he doesn’t have a problem with the improvement of services, but feels that it disadvantages those in the industry. Seloane says he wouldn’t mind the system if it was possible for him to own the buses, but the system is designed in such a way that that is not possible. 

He says the municipality plans to work on 12-year contracts, he questions what will happen to people once their contracts lapse because in the taxi industry, there are currently no contracts.

The project is expected to be introduced in two phases. Selloane explained that the first phase will cover the area known as Chief Moroka up to the University of the Free State. The second phase will cover Bloemfontein’s Central Business District and go all the way to the informal settlements known as Phase 6 and 7. 

OFM News has reported that the main roads along the latter of these two phases have already been prepared for the project.

The Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality has been in the process of establishing an Integrated Public Transport Network for the city for years. This is despite concerns raised by the public in recent years over the viability of the bus transit system, which according to reports has failed in larger cities, like Johannesburg. 

Seloane asked at the time “if it failed in a real metropolitan city, what do they think will happen here”.

Despite these concerns, the metro does appear to be going ahead with preparations for the IPTN. Several road infrastructure projects are underway in the city to ready the metro’s roads for the BRT.

OFM News