Gauteng transport minister Khabisi Mosunkutu on Tuesday launched a multimillion-rand project aimed at upgrading the Randfontein taxi rank in the West Rand.
The project forms part of a R2,5-billion programme to transform existing taxi and bus ranks around the country into diversified retail and service outlets.
Facilitated by empowerment property development group Taxiprop and the South African National Taxi Council (Santaco), the 10-year programme is set to create more than 60 000 jobs in the country.
Kevin Williams, Taxiprop chief executive, says the programme presents a vital opportunity to the entire retail sector in South Africa.
”It [the programme] will bring services closer to the community,” he says.
Williams says the Randfontein project is the start of the first round of the national programme. Construction was due to start on Wednesday.
According to Williams, the Randfontein development project will create 310 jobs. Of these, 110 will be during the construction phase. Those targeted for employment will be youths (60%) and women (40%).
Williams says the project will provide safe and clean facilities for commuters. This will include improved connectivity between taxis and trains.
”The systematic development and improvement of public transport has been identified as essential for continued and accelerated economic growth in South Africa,” says Williams.
Phase two of the project, William says, will incorporate retail facilities (both formal and informal), motor-industry-related services, banking facilities, medical facilities, legal aid offices and education facilities.
”This will create additional jobs and bring much-needed investments to the area, presenting an opportunity for convenience retail and other commuter facilities.”
Mosunkutu says while the infrastructure is an important multimodal station aimed at facilitating seamless travelling by different modes of transport, it is also an important social and economic tool that will further advance ”our goal to deliver a better life for all”.
”Without efficient and modern transport, information and communication technology and infrustrcture, our country may not fully escape the twilight Third World status,” says Mosunkutu.