‘Lack of bus operating licences a challenge’

THE issuing of operating licence permits, a lack of funding for operators and the reduction of speed by buses topped the agenda at the Southern African Bus Operators Association (Saboa) indaba held in Rondebosch yesterday.

Attended by more than 100 bus operators, the indaba heard a proposal by the provincial Transport Department that buses should reduce their speed from 120km/h to 100km/h on freeways and from 60km/h to 40km/h in residential zones, which was opposed by the operators.

Gordon Makaluza of Miya’s Travel, which offers local and long-distance trips, said getting an operating licence to transport pupils to and from schools was difficult.

He said he was in possession of an “indefinite permit” he had obtained from the government during apartheid, which permitted him to acquire contracts with schools, churches and organisations.

But Makaluza said he had been not been granted a permit to transport pupils since 1994.

“This means I cannot transport pupils without first getting a contract from the education department… even though I have been approached by parents,” he said.

Saboa chairperson Eric Cornelius said the absence of operating licences among bus operators was the main challenge facing the industry. “Underfunding and impounding of operators’ buses is the main issue of concern. Operators want to be part of the government subsidy,” he said.

“We are in constant contact with the transport and treasury departments to get funding for bus operators.”

He said reducing the speed limit was not the answer.

“Proper research should be done on this issue to look at the disadvantages that the operators will find themselves in,” said Cornelius.

The provincial Transport Department’s regulatory entity’s legal representative Carmelita Herandien said there were many permit holders contracted to the provincial Education Department who didn’t have operating licences.

“In fact, less than 30 percent of vehicles mentioned in such contracts have valid operating licences,” said Herandien.

“They have to comply with legal prescripts in the interests of pupil safety. Section 50 of the NLTA (National Land Transport Act) stipulates that no person may operate a roadbased public transport service without holding the required operating licence.

“Vehicles must also be proactively maintained…”

Vehicles contracted with the Education Department to transport pupils should be used specifically and exclusively for that purpose or they would face being impounded and a fine imposed. sandiso.phaliso@inl.co.za

@PhalisoSandiso