Sandton City owners fail to stop Rea Vaya
Liberty and Pareto have failed in their bid to stop the construction of a Rea Vaya station on the doorstep of the Sandton City, arguing the mooted terminal will block pedestrians wanting to access the mall.
Liberty Two Degrees and Pareto co-own Sandton City, which recently marked 50 years of existence and is arguably SA’s most prized shopping centre, situated in what is called Africa’s richest square mile.
Liberty and Pareto are opposed to the construction of a Rea Vaya terminal at its intended location, fearing that after construction pedestrians using Pybus Road will not be able to walk across Rivonia Road to get to Sandton City.
Rivonia Road is a main road going through Sandton. It runs north-south, carrying traffic in both directions. The proposed Rea Vaya terminal will be in the middle of Rivonia Road, taking up the whole distance between 5th Street and Pybus Road.
When operational, two busses, travelling in each direction, north and south, will be stationary simultaneously to allow passengers to get on and off the buses. Judge Gregory Charles Wright dismissed the complaints raised by the mall’s owners and ordered them to pay the costs of the suit.
“While at present traffic may turn right from Rivonia Road into Pybus Road, after construction no such turn will be allowed … Ms Mabuza explains that this decision was taken for safety reasons. A right turn across oncoming traffic is inherently dangerous at the best of times,” Wright ruled.
“Turning right directly in front of a large piece of concrete which blocks sight of oncoming traffic is all the more dangerous. Third, after construction, pedestrians walking up Pybus Road towards Sandton City will not be able to cross Rivonia Road to get to Sandton City. This fear is ill founded. The plan shows that zebra crossings will lead pedestrians using Pybus Road over Rivonia Road.”
ECONOMIC HUBS
Sandton CBD is home to some of SA’s largest corporations and top multinational companies. It has the JSE as one of its flagship residents.
The City of Johannesburg has since 2007 tried to give access to the city’s economic hubs to people who live outside them.
The city, including Sandton, has historically been clogged by traffic, and many people were getting less than a fair opportunity to enjoy all the benefits of the city.
In 2007, the government approved a broad public transport answer to congestion, which allowed less privileged people, previously relegated to the outskirts, to participate fairly in the city in all respects, including work.
The city began a programme to give effect to this ideal, which eventually gave birth to the Rea Vaya programme. Many parts of greater Johannesburg, including Sandton, were envisaged as beneficiaries of Rea Vaya.
This led to large concrete bus terminals placed in the middle of busy roads, moving thousands of people a day.
Liberty and Pareto were granted leave to appeal.