Work set to start on Uitenhage IPTS route

The Nelson Mandela Bay municipality will start work on the KwaNobuhle to Uitenhage CBD Integrated Public Transport System (IPTS) route before the end of the 2018/2019 financial year.

This comes after a majority of councillors agreed to forge ahead with the last phase of the four routes because it was “ready”.

The plan was, however, rejected by the DA, which said it flouted council processes.

But infrastructure and engineering portfolio head Andile Lungisa said work on the Njoli route would not be stopped.

Meanwhile, the budget and treasury department warned that implementing all the routes in one financial year could lead to a property rates increase of 3.5%.

This would be to cover the estimated direct operating cost of about R66m.

Roads and transport committee chair Rosie Daaminds said at Thursday’s council meeting that engagements with taxi associations in the Uitenhage area were ongoing.

“It is the taxi drivers who want this. Njoli is not ready but Uitenhage is ready.”

Daaminds denied claims that the plan had not been preNelson sented to the roads and transport committee.

Infrastructure and engineering boss Walter Shaidi wrote in a report that bus platforms between the proposed main route of KwaNobuhle and Uitenhage CBD had already been constructed.

“Sites have been identified and concept designs completed for a terminal and depot in KwaNobuhle,” he stated.

Mandela Bay Regional Taxi Association general secretary Andile Andries said they welcomed the move.

He said the association represented about 10 taxi organisations in Nelson Mandela Bay.

“This was discussed with us and we welcome this,” he said.

Andries said they were yet to discuss operational matters with the municipality.

“The people in Uitenhage need this,” he said.

DA councillor Kabelo Mogatosi said agreeing to the change of plans would be seen as a deviation from government legislation.

“The National Treasury was here to make sure we don’t go back to where money was lost and unaccounted for.”

Mogatosi argued that readiness for a project did not solely depend on infrastructure.

“IPTS is one of the thorniest issues in Nelson Mandela Bay.

“There is R2.5bn unaccounted for ... If this was about infrastructure being ready, then we would have the CBD and Summerstrand route already.”

‘It is the taxi drivers who want this. Njoli is not ready but Uitenhage is’ Rosie Daaminds

ROADS & TRANSPORT COMMITTEE CHAIR