/ 26 October 2012

Capetonians slow to catch the bus

Johannesburg's residents are doing a lot better in adopting new modes of public transport.
Johannesburg's residents are doing a lot better in adopting new modes of public transport.

However, both cities are behind target in attracting passenger numbers.

According to the transport department's budget vote, 43 000 passengers are using Johannesburg's Rea Vaya bus system every day. This equates to 43% of the city's target of 100 000 daily passengers.

Cape Town, on the other hand, transports only 12 000 passengers on its MyCiti bus service every day – a mere 11% of the city's target of 112 000.

The budget vote statement said the Rea Vaya network was expected to transport 50–000 passengers daily by March 2013 and might only reach the targeted passenger load by the 2013-2014 financial year. This, it said, was due to delays in negotiating contracts for expanding the service.

MyCiti is projected to carry about 20 000 passengers every day by March 2013, with the full target being reached by March 2014. Contract delays are again blamed.

In this financial year, Johannesburg has to roll out an additional 16.7km of bidirectional bus lanes and Cape Town a further 5km. Jo'burg already has the lanes, but they are only expected to become operational by the end of the 2013-2014 fiscal year. Cape Town has rolled out 2km of its targeted 5km.

See the rest of the M&G's medium-term policy statement coverage:

Government debt to rise as tax revenues wobble
Pravin Gordhan has offered some optimism for SA's economic outlook, despite his mid-term budget signalling plans for a rise in government debt.

Midterm budget: Government failing to create jobs
The midterm budget policy statement has revealed that the government is failing at creating jobs, outside of the expanded public works programme.

Midterm budget: Money put aside to revamp mining sector
In response to developments in mining, the medium-term budget policy sets out imperatives to modernise the industry and amend labour relations.

Development cash linked to delivery
The government wants more bang for its buck when it comes to provincial and local government infrastructure roll-out.

Midterm budget: Strikes cost economy dearly
The treasury says unrest has had a negative impact on growth, adding tax revenue will be lower as wildcat strikes are estimated to have cost R10bn.

Fighting talk from Pravin Gordhan
Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan tightened his belt, chided the country's critics and delivered a no-nonsense medium-term budget policy statement.