The City of Tshwane aims to roll out 171 buses by November as part of the inception phase of its bus rapid transit (BRT) system, with the view to establishing additional stages and introducing further buses if there is demand,

according to bus operating company Tshwane Rapid Transit (TRT) CEO Bukeka Mahlutshana, who addressed the media in Pretoria last month.

TRT, a private company, was contracted in 2012 by the City of Tshwane to operate the BRT planning and run the inception phase of the system, including the roll-out of the initial 30 buses.

The three-year inception phase, which is expected to begin in November, will allow the city to identify the taxi and bus operators affected by the BRT system and integrate them into the system by offering them jobs as BRT drivers.

At least 48 drivers from the taxi industry have been employed, as part of the inception phase, and have undergone extensive training to operate the buses.

TRT operations manager Fanie van der Walt said TRT had spent three months with the selected taxi drivers to explain the long-term relationship with the company and the benefits of becoming bus drivers for the BRT system. He added that the driver contract was for 15 years, which ensured job security and opportunities for growth in the company.

The inception phase of the BRT system would be followed by a 12-year contract between the city and TRT, the latter of which would be contracted to run the buses as Tshwane’s management company.

The contract was being negotiated on a ‘rate by kilometre’ model.

“The plan is to employ more people from the taxi industry to curb the job losses experienced by those who will be affected by the BRT routes. We intend to integrate those who are affected into the BRT system,” noted Mahlutshana.

TRT deputy chairperson Piet Mahlangu said he hoped the image of the taxi industry would be improved following the inception of the BRT system and stated that a backlash was not expected from the taxi industry regarding the implementation of the BRT system in Tshwane.

Mahlangu added that TRT was exploring all opportunities that arose from the implementation phase and that he hoped that people in the taxi industry would be the primary beneficiaries of such opportunities.

“The National Taxi Alliance and the South African National Taxi Council are working together in Tshwane to ensure [the Tshwane BRT system] is a success,” he said.