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| Historic moment for Rea Vaya |
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| Tuesday, 08 June 2010 |
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Minibus taxi operators affected by Phase 1A of the Rea Vaya BRT agree to become shareholders in bus operating company: statement by the Executive Mayor of Johannesburg, Amos Masondo THIS is a very historic week for South Africa and for the City of Joburg and in a very historic period. On Friday, the first Soccer World Cup on African soil begins right here in Joburg. Last Friday, I unveiled a picture of our great African hero, Nelson Mandela on the Nelson Mandela Bridge as part of the 2010 Soccer World Celebrations. Yesterday, the flagship transport project of Gauteng, the Gautrain began operating from OR Tambo to Sandton. Over the last two weeks the Blue Bulls from Pretoria have travelled by train and by bus, including the Rea Vaya to Soweto, to be welcomed as compatriots. Many of these events have a link to transport, so it is befitting that we are gathered here today to celebrate a further great achievement in respect of transport. It gives me great pleasure to announce that we have reached a historic transformation milestone in the Rea Vaya BRT project. A process that started almost four years ago and included study tours, workshops, seminars and numerous meetings is coming to fruition. After 10 months of intensive negotiations, the City of Johannesburg and representatives of affected minibus taxi operators for Phase 1A have reached substantive agreement on the contents of a future bus operating contract that will be signed between them and the City. The contents of this bus operating contract has been accepted by over 300 operators who own over 600 mini bus taxis along the affected route who have agreed that they will hand in 585 mini-bus taxis for sale or scrapping and become shareholders in the new Bus Operating Company. This is a first for South Africa where such a large number of mini bus taxi operators have embraced the imperative for public transport transformation and the ideals of safety, affordability and convenience in a transport system and agreed to become part of the process. They have recognised the potential of the Rea Vaya BRT to provide both quality public transport from Soweto to the inner city and an economic future for themselves and their families. The City is deeply indebted to the courage and determination of these operators and their leaders who have withstood threats to their lives and their livelihoods. We thank them for remaining committed to the process despite the challenges that they faced including victimization, loss of income and violence. We are cognisant and grateful for the sacrifices they have made. In this room today are pioneers – men and women whose bold and visionary leadership will serve to inspire others in the taxi industry, to be willing to engage, discuss and find solutions to the many complex challenges that continue to plague public transport. The City of Johannesburg’s relationship with the Rea Vaya steering committee and negotiating team has been characterised by a willingness on both sides to see the bigger picture. To work in a spirit of co-operation to jointly find solutions to complex challenges and to respect each other in the process.We as the City of Johannesburg, look forward to continued strengthening of the partnership that we have built to ensure public transport transformation. This transformation is one that benefits both commuters, the industry and in fact our future citizens as we transform our spatial landscape and reduce carbon emissions through the Rea Vaya project. The time ahead is going to be a busy one for the new shareholders of the bus operating company. All shareholders will be required to formally accept a written offer from the City. After which there will be a transition period where a “Shareholder Representative Team” will be orientated and trained by the existing temporary bus operating company, Clidet. The Shareholder Representative Team will include designated Board of Directors as well as key future management. When all the technical processes have been finalised to transfer ownership from Clidet to the new company as well as the Cipro processes, the Board of Directors will appoint a CEO and other key staff. A formal and final handover from Clidet will then happen. The target date for this is 1 September 2010. These details are all contained in a Negotiation Closure Agreement which was signed between the City of Joburg and the representatives of the Phase 1A negotiating team last Friday 4th June 2010. The Negotiation Closure Agreement also provides for the placing of an advert in the newspapers, formally closing the negotiations. I would like to thank the temporary bus company, Clidet including the CEO Jackie Huntley, Metrobus who had a management contract with Clidet and Putco who volunteered to second staff to Clidet for the initiator and caretaker role that they have played. They have trained drivers, set up systems and made sure that the buses kept running even under the most difficult and unique of circumstances. Allow me to salute the role played by the highly skilled independent facilitators under the leadership of Mr Charles Nupen, Mr Pete Harris, MrTefo Raditipole and Ms Tanya Venter. No doubt, their collective wisdom and experience assisted in navigating this complex process to a successful outcome. Negotiations always have two parties. The City of Johannesburg negotiating team under the ED Ms Lisa Seftel have worked tirelessly and with great passion and determination to enable us to reach this historic milestone. I would l like to play a special tribute to Mr. Sipho Nimrod Mntambo, Mkhulu. He was with us at the start of this long journey but has passed on. He played a tremendous role in bringing the taxi industry on board the BRT. Today’s achievement is a fitting tribute to the role that he has played. The successful conclusion of this phase of the negotiations is truly a historic milestone. With no handbook or textbook to work from, the team shaped the process successfully. A first for the country it is testimony to the power of what can be achieved when working together in a collaborative spirit. As we ready ourselves for kick off on Friday, the message to the taxi industry negotiating team is: “The countdown to taxi industry takeover of the Rea Vaya Bus operating company has begun in earnest and promises to be an exciting journey indeed…” Rea Vaya – a bus company owned by the taxi industry – a legacy beyond the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Ke Nako! |
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