THE industry body representing the companies which operate bus rapid transit (BRT) systems across major South African cities has urged government to reconsider changing the current BRT legislation governing the call for new operating tenders.
The South African Bus Rapid Transit Association and Academy (SABRATA) said in a recent media briefing that there are significant issues relating to BRT systems around the country, with the major one being the 12-year bus operating company (BOC) contracts.
SABRATA Chairman Andile Peter said members want the current BOC contracts to be renewed to give them time to “work with national government to collaboratively create a viable framework and legislation for future operations”.
He said the original contracts were not tendered but rather negotiated with the taxi industry, where several considerations were taken into account, including transformation and empowerment of the taxi industry.
“SABRATA does not agree with the idea of going out on tender. Our call is about addressing imbalances, both past and present, creating a viable framework for BOCs across the country and ensuring that there is a level playing field for all operators.”
Peter said most of the promises made to their members by government when they joined the BRT system had not been fulfilled. “For instance, there has been no transformation, minimal empowerment and no tangible value chain opportunities… Government promised that members would be better-off after joining BRTs, yet the reality is the opposite.
“Our members are required to respond to an open tender in a competitive bidding process, where they are expected to compete on a clearly unequal and prejudicial basis with persons who unlike them when they joined, will not be expected to scrap their vehicles, relinquish their permits and be restrained from trading and earning a livelihood.”
Asked what the organisation would do if government pressed ahead with the call for new tenders, Peter said, “If all engagements fail, which is not the intended outcome, SABRATA will approach the courts as a last resort on behalf of its members.”
Asked what they intended to do regarding the long delayed GO!Durban BRT system, Peter said, “SABRATA is in the launching stage and has reached out the current operating BOC’s. The next phase is to engage all the BRT’s nationwide including GO!Durban which is a key member of SABRATA.”
He added that the organisation would be incomplete without GO!Durban. “We are confident that GO!Durban will benefit from the lessons learnt from other BOCs via a platform coordinated by SABRATA.”
