Durban’s beleaguered bus operator, Remant Alton, has been replaced by another operator after years of poor service.
”The new operator has been appointed and our intention is to have buses operating in the next few days,” said KwaZulu-Natal transport department head Chris Hlabisa on Tuesday.
The official announcement of the new operator was expected to be made soon by provincial transport minister Bheki Cele. Remant Alton ceased operations on June 30 after it experienced serious financial problems. The termination of the bus service left thousands of commuters without public transport.
KwaZulu-Natal Premier Zweli Mkhize immediately appointed a task team to address the matter. The team consisted of provincial finance minister Ina Cronje, education minister Senzo Mchunu, economic development and tourism minsiter Mike Mabuyakhulu as well as Cele.
The Ethekwini Municipality privatised the municipal fleet in 2003 because the National Land Transport Transition Act stipulated that municipalities with transport authorities, such as eThekwini, should not run bus services themselves.
Since 2003, Remant Alton has been accused of failing to provide efficient public transport and the city had bailed it out financially several times.
In 2008, eThekwini spent R405-million buying back buses and equipment from the underperforming operator. This was in terms of an agreement where Remant Alton would continue operating the service with the council owning the fleet. However, the company continued to experience financial problems, forcing it to stop operating.
Transport department manager for public transport Simo Chamane said the department would have a meeting with eThekwini Municipality officials on Tuesday afternoon.
”The date for the start of bus operations will be decided during the meeting. The meeting will take place in Durban,” he said. Chamane said it was unlikely that bus operations would start on Wednesday, saying it was a massive operation that needed proper planning.
The South African Press Association (Sapa) was reliably informed that the task team wanted buses to start operating on Wednesday.
The suspension of buses was criticised by all political parties including the African National Congress, which said it would have a negative impact on the city’s economy. –Sapa