Gauteng commuters dependent on public transport are being denied access to crucial information relating to bus and train times. This is because the Gauteng Transport Management Centre’s (TMC) telephone lines are not functioning properly due to load-shedding.
This has also resulted in TMC failing to meet its target of 50,000 commuters accessing its services.
This information was revealed in the first quarter report for the 2023/2024 financial year for the Department of Roads and Transport. Only 32 676 commuters were able to access the TMC.
The inconsistent power supply during load-shedding impacts how the TMC system functions.
The fact that this centre is not fully operational is concerning as commuters who rely on public transport cannot plan properly if there are delays in buses and trains. This centre plays a critical role in ensuring that commuters can access timetables telephonically for public transport.
Failure to access this service means that our commuters are at risk of arriving late at work or various destinations.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) will be tabling questions to determine the progress of installing backup power. We will also conduct an oversight inspection at this centre to assess whether or not it is fully operational.
A DA government will be committed to implementing a proper integrated transport plan in the province. Public transport is one of the most affordable modes of transportation that residents must have access to.