TRAM NIGHTMARE ‘While the municipality, through the tourism office, tries to promote Kimberley as a tourist destination, visitors leave perturbed by the horrible state of our city . . .’

TOURISTS using Kimberley’s historic tram are being exposed to taxi operators and commuters relieving themselves in public.

This is according to a report on the challenges currently being experienced by the service, which is offered by the Sol Plaatje Municipality.

The report has called for a clear directive or decision regarding the reopening of Bultfontein Road in order to ensure the financial viability of the tram route, which has been shortened as a result of the road’s closure.

“Kimberley was the first town in Africa to have electric street lights and the Kimberley tram made its first journey in 1887,” the report states.

“The tram started transporting people to the Big Hole in 1887 and today visitors can take a 15 to 20 minute ride on the vintage orange tram around the Big Hole for R10.

Starting at the Kimberley Mine Museum, the tram heads from the museum past historical features, such as the original mining shaft and the authentic Star of the West bar, round the Big Hole to the viewing deck, where visitors have a visceral view into it.

“It also passes some of Kimberley’s most historic sites such as the Head Office of De Beers Consolidated Mines and the original Big Hole dumps.”

Among the challenges identified, however, is the state of cleanliness along the tram route.

“The state of the route is not appealing to tourists due to the dirt that is constantly there. When the grass is cut, it just gets left in heaps without being removed to the dumping site and becomes a sorry site. The comments the tram staff get about the cleanliness along the route are very disturbing, but true.”

The report further states that the tram used to ride along Bultfontein Road to the City Hall. Since Bultfontein Road was closed in March 2008, the route was shortened and the tram now only rides for a distance of 1.7km from the Big Hole to where Bultfontein Road has been closed.

“The challenge with this is that tourists are dissatisfied with the shortened route and as a result there is no way that the tourism office can increase the price for tram rides as tourists already feel that they are being ripped off by having to pay R10.”

Another concern raised was “public indecency caused by taxi commuters/operators”.

“Operators and commuters of taxis that are operating illegally in Bultfontein Road relieve themselves publicly in full view of the tourists and even when they see the tram approaching they are not bothered. This not only exposes the tourists on the tram to public indecency but also to the stench and terrible smell emanating from such acts,” the report states.

“While the SPM, through the tourism office, tries to promote the city as a tourist destination, visitors leave perturbed by the horrible state of our city and word of mouth is unfortunately a power tool which, in this case, disadvantages the city.”

According to the report, the tourism office is flooded with complaints about the state of the tram route.

During the last financial year, the tram operated at an estimated loss of R60 000. “The cost for a return trip is R10 per person and this can only be increased if Bultfontein Road is reopened.”

During its peak season, in December last year, the tram generated R8 040 for the month. In June this year, however, only 92 tickets were sold, bringing in R920, while in January this year 62 tickets were sold.