In eThekwini, the Go! Durban is long overdue and has been besieged with challenges.
Image: DOCTOR NGCOBO Independent Newspapers
The first leg of the long-delayed Go! Durban project could go live this year, as the eThekwini Municipality and the taxi industry are resolving their impasse.
Mathula Mkhize of the Durban West Taxi Association, under Santaco, told The Mercury that the city and the industry are working together to resolve their differences and pave the way for the launch of the programme. The C3 route, which runs between Pinetown and KwaMashu, is completed and was the one most impacted by the impasse. It is the route that will likely go live first.
There have been several dates in the past for the project to go live, but those dates were allowed to pass without the launch. The delay has been a source of concern for the city and the government, with claims that the city was spending millions of rand to guard the infrastructure against vandalism.
The main reason for the stalemate was around the ownership of the buses. The taxi operators demanded a controlling stake in the buses, as they claimed they were losing business, while the city claimed control of the project, arguing that it was footing the bill.
“We are moving forward; the back-and-forth tensions that have been present are not going to be here anymore. The project is set to go live, and in our engagement with the municipality, we have told them that we are comfortable with the project going live this year,” Mkhize said. “There are still many outstanding issues, including the ownership of the buses and other important matters, but for the moment, I can state that we are engaging with the municipality. We have a table to engage, and we are moving forward.”
Mkhize noted that some of the changes included reverting to the original plan and abandoning the new plan that had been proposed, which would have allowed those who were not part of the project to operate on that route without having to join.
“That plan has now been abandoned, and we have told them that they have tried everything; it is time to implement this long-delayed project. We are in negotiation with them regarding compensation and other issues. The delays have also been due to uncertainty about whether they have the funding, so we are waiting for them to put forward the budget to facilitate the implementation of this project.”
eThekwini Municipality’s Marketing and Communications Director, Mandla Nsele, confirmed that engagements with affected public transport operators have been positive and have resulted in significant progress. He said that while substantial strides have been made towards resolving outstanding matters, discussions are continuing to ensure that all requirements for the successful implementation of the project are finalised.
“The remaining key processes include the conclusion of negotiated contracts with affected public transport operators, as well as the testing and commissioning of the system. These are essential steps that must be completed before the city can commence full-scale operations.
“The progress achieved is the result of ongoing engagement, constructive dialogue, and a shared commitment by all stakeholders to find practical solutions that support the transformation, empowerment, and formalisation of the minibus taxi and bus industries, while serving the best interests of commuters across eThekwini.”
“The city has reverted to its conventional phased approach to implementing the Go! Durban Network, an approach that has been agreed upon by all key stakeholders. The city plans to commence operating the C3 service from December 2026, with services to be progressively expanded thereafter,” he said.
DA councillor Lyndal Singh said the party notes reports that the Go! Durban project could commence operations before the end of the year, following an agreement between the city and taxi operators. “While the DA welcomes any meaningful progress towards delivering an integrated public transport system, we remain cautious given the project's long history of delays.”
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