Officers from metro police, EMS and SAPS toured the Phase 1B stations to get a first-hand perspective on what safety and security measures were being put in place.

Sipho Mahlangu Rea Vaya's deputy director for safety and security, lead the tour

SAFETY on Rea Vaya stations is always a priority, with CCTV cameras and station ambassadors keeping a constant watch over commuters. And in future, there will be a more visible police presence at the stations.

The Joburg metro police department (JMPD) and the City's emergency management services (EMS) both play a role in safety and security at the stations, and this week they were on site checking new stations.

A contingent of South African Police Service members, JMPD and EMS officials toured the stations being built in Phase 1B of the Bus Rapid Transit system, on 12 October, using the opportunity to assess security requirements.

Rea Vaya's deputy director for safety and security, Sipho Mahlangu, pointed out specific aspects unique to each of the stations visited: some had a lot of people passing through and in the jostling commuters may be vulnerable to petty crime; others may be isolated or be open extended hours – from as early as 4.30am.

First stop for the group was Rissik Station in the inner city where, Mahlangu said, security needed to be tight as a lot of people passed through and passengers may be targeted by muggers. At Wits Station, many young students would be using the buses and needed to be protected. The same would be true for the station near the University of Johannesburg.

Sipho Mahlangu Rea Vaya's deputy director for safety and security pointed out specific aspects unique to each of the stations visited

The station at the SABC headquarters would be one of the biggest built. While travelling along Kingsway Road in Auckland Park, he pointed out the high traffic volume. Some 23 000 students travelled from all directions, many using taxis at the moment.

In Phase 1B, like its predecessor, taxi and bus operators will become part of the Rea Vaya project, and many taxis will be replaced by the bus-commute.

Pennyville Station in New Canada – the final station on the Phase 1B route – is part of a larger transport hub. There is a railway station on one side and the Rea Vaya lanes on the other.

"On this station, people can travel with a train from places where there is no Rea Vaya and take the bus to the places where the train does not reach," Mahlangu said.

However, this called for a different type of policing. At present JMPD officers patrolled stations, undertaking crime prevention and by-law enforcement, while EMS "helps with any issue of disaster".

Building a good relationship with all three organisations – including the SAPS – was essential: the success of public transport relied on law enforcement. "These guys will be dealing with threats that will be directed to the service or the staff," he explained.

Law enforcement played a vital role in the success of Phase 1A. "We need the same method when we introduce the BRT to areas that are not familiar with it. We will have visibility patrols."

Rea Vaya also has a state-of-the-art control room, where security and traffic is monitored 18 hours a day. BRT and metro police staff monitor security on the buses and at the stations via CCTV cameras linked to the control centre.

If a security-related incident is picked up, a unit can be dispatched to the relevant station or bus to deal with the problem.

The security plans for Phase 1B precede the successful safety and security planning and implementation of Phase 1A. These plans included, the installation of CCTV cameras outside and inside the stations, ongoing joint law enforcement operations, constant station patrols, monitoring based on hotspots and the appointment of senior safety officers for the Operation Control Centre. The lessons learnt will be carried over to Phase 1B.

Related stories:

• Public transport set to change
• Trees planted in Parktown
• Steady progress on Phase 1B
• More JMPD officers for Rea Vaya
• Rea Vaya's state-of-the-art control room