The Gauteng Roads and Transport Department hopes to launch the Gauteng Transport Commission this month, says Gauteng Roads and Transport MEC Dr Ismail Vadi.
He says the commission will not be an authority with “overarching powers”, as the province’s “powerful” municipal authorities have significant constitutional powers that cannot simply be overrun by a provincial body.
“We are not ready to launch a fully fledged transport authority.”
However, Vadi hopes the commission, as “an overarching structure”, will serve as a stepping stone to the formation of a full- blown transport authority, overseeing transport planning and project execution in Gauteng. He believes this could eventually happen as the commission gains experience “in its relationship to the metros”.
Vadi says the next three to five years will serve as an experiment to “carefully build the chemistry” between the metropolitan councils and provincial government.
In the meantime, the commission will identify key projects that are of mutual benefit to “all of us”, building trusts among the participants and finding common interests.
“Experience will teach us what projects to target,” says Vadi.
He adds that he is confident the provincial government will be able “by October, at least,” to establish the core structure of the transport commission, as well as allocate projects for the commission’s attention, such as nonmotorised transport and building an integrated provincial rail system.
The immediate focus is on “getting the right people in place”, and to develop capacity at the commission.
The approach of the commission will not be “powers and function”, but “projects and work”, adds Vadi.
Establishing a transport authority forms part of the shorter-term goals of Gauteng’s 25-year integrated transport master plan (ITMP25), currently being drafted under Vadi’s leadership.
ITMP25 steering committee chairperson Jack van der Merwe says the key aim for the transport commission will be to foster efficiency, and not to start a turf war between local councils and the Gauteng provincial government.