Transport costs are impoverishing us, IDP meeting told

18 April 2016

 

Johannesburg residents in several parts of Roodepoort have called for the Rea Vaya Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system to be extended to their areas because of the exorbitant costs of transport.

 

The residents were speaking at an Integrated Development Planning (IDP) meeting at the Roodepoort City Hall late last week aimed at giving them a platform to come up with ideas on how their quality of life could be improved.

The IDP meeting – one of 24 community engagement sessions held across the City of Johannesburg’s seven regions until Thursday April 21 – was addressed by Member of the Mayoral Committee for Transport Cllr Christine Walters, Chairperson of the Economic Development Portfolio Committee Cllr Willie van der Schyff and Region C Director Mlamleli Belot.

They briefed residents about the progress the City had made and about capital projects it would undertake in the next few years. Ntombi Kajana, a domestic worker from Thulani, said she was struggling to fend for her two disabled children because of the high transport costs. She said there no water or electricity in her shack and criminals caused havoc in the area as there was no police visibility.

“We’re spending too much on transport, at least R500 a week. I can’t afford it,” she said.

She was backed by university student Mckinnley Mitchell, who said the lack of reliable and affordable transport was unfair, especially for the poor. Mitchell has already made presentations to MMC Walters about expanding the BRT system as part of the Corridors of Freedom’s transport project. MMC Walters welcomed his input and promised to look into his suggestions. She said some of the challenges facing communities would be addressed through the City’s proposed 12-priorities strategy.

Nontsikelelo Magaqa, of Durban Deep, said she was battling to register a crèche. She said when residents sought help from City entities, officials sent them from pillar to post. Walters told the audience – many of them from Tshepisong, Thulani, Princess Crossing and Leratong Village informal settlements, as well as from Davidsonville – the City would look into the service delivery issues they had raised.

Most complaints were around youth unemployment, inadequate health facilities, poorly built houses, the lack of basic services such as water and electricity, costly public transport, poor policing and escalating crime levels. Several residents complained that there were not enough schools, clinics, sports facilities and proper infrastructure. Illegal mining fuelled crime and caused health problems.

“Most of the issues raised here tonight are service delivery-related. The Regional Director and I will go through all the issues and see what we can do. But what can be done immediately is to provide water tanks to the DRD informal settlement and tackle the drug problems around schools. City Parks should be cutting grass in Davidsonville and other areas. As for provincial issues [such as land] I’ll take them to the Premier’s Forum on Monday,” she said.

As part of tackling unemployment, MMC Walters said the City had stopped importing Metro buses to build them locally.