The leadership of the City and the country came in for praise at the party to celebrate Rea Vaya’s first birthday.

THE presidential suite at the grand FNB Stadium seemed the right place to celebrate the historic first birthday of the Bus Rapid Transit system, or Rea Vaya.

The station art wins a BASA award on Rea Vaya's birthday

Congratulations to Rea Vaya (Pic: Enoch Lehung)

Cutting the birthday cake (Pic: Enoch Lehung)

TAXI SUPPORT

During the several years of negotiations with the industry, the City engaged the services of Charles Nupen, who managed the Negotiations Facilitation Team. While the mayor paid tribute to Nupen and his team, Nupen in turn praised the “highest qualities of leadership” in the City, particularly from the mayor and the mayoral committee member for transport, Rehana Moosajee.

“At times we were looking down the barrel of deadlock - at certain critical moments we were butting heads. We would not have reached a successful conclusion if not for the political backing from the mayor and the MMC.”

Nupen praised the City for undertaking a “great deal of building and understanding” before it came to the negotiating table. The City also placed resources at the disposal of the taxi industry, making it more equal partners in the negotiations.

“The City had the right people to give the right leadership. The City always had an inclusive process.” He added that the structure of the deal with the taxi industry – in which it would take over the running of the bus operating company – was a win-win agreement.

Eric Motshwane, the chairman of the Greater Johannesburg Regional Taxi Council, congratulated the City for staying the course over the first year. “It’s been a long and windy, sometimes scary and treacherous road.”

He was pleased that the City recognised that any BRT wouldn’t work without the support of the local taxi industry. “We are grateful for the foresight of the City,” he said. “The City needs us as much as we need them – it is an equal partnership.”

In the next few days, the City and the industry will sign the acceptance of the City’s written offer to the industry to become formal shareholders in the bus company. A symbolic key was handed over for Clidet, the “special purpose vehicle” or temporary company that will be running the bus system once it is handed over.

“Congratulations and happy birthday, Rea Vaya,” he concluded.Sicelo Mabaso, the chairman of the Top Six Taxi Association, spoke of having dreams that usually did not come true - although some did. “But today I stand here as testimony to the dreams,” he smiled. “Mr Mayor, the support you have given us makes us to fly.”