Joburg lays out red carpet for pensioners during Transport Month

12 October 2017

 

To celebrate Transport Month, the City of Johannesburg took several pensioners on a free Metrobus and Gautrain ride before treating them to a three-course meal at a top Sandton hotel.

 

City of Johannesburg’s Member of the Mayoral Committee for Transport, Cllr Nonhlanhla Makhuba, accompanied by officials in the Transport Department, hosted the excited senior citizens on Tuesday, 10 October 2017.

The City chose senior citizens of Riverlea Old Age Home, who were exposed to VIP treatment all the way from the south of Joburg to glitzy Sandton. Not to be outdone, the pensioners were dressed for the occasion in their Sunday best and looked every inch like royalty.

The City of Johannesburg seeks to raise awareness on the important role of transport in the economy including the provision of a safe and more affordable, accessible and reliable transport system.

Cllr Makhuba told the special guests that the City was working hard to ensure that public transport was more reliable, convenient and affordable to all resident of Joburg.

“This is my second Transport Month as an MMC and I have chosen to continue with a programme I started last year where we identify a group of senior citizens to join me on a public transport experience,” said Cllr Makhuba.

“We encourage residents to use public transport among many other activities that we have throughout the month,” she said.

An elated chairman of the Riverlea Old Age Home, Ibrahim Toffie (65) expressed his excitement about what he and fellow residents of the old age home had experienced.

“Today was the first time that I have been on the Gautrain. I had a wonderful ride and I can’t wait to go on it again,” a beaming Toffie said.

On their arrival in Sandton, the jubilant senior citizens were treated to a delicious lunch made up of a mouth-watering starter, main course and dessert at the Radisson Blue Hotel. For 74-year-old Maude Binderman, the experience was wonderful and something she will never forget.

“It was very nice. The service was fantastic and I am going to tell people to make use of the Gautrain and Metrobus,” added Binderman.