Patricia de Lille, Cape Town mayor, has called the MyCiTi bus service as Cape Town’s biggest black economic empowerment (BEE) project.
In a speech De Lille said: “To date, the MyCiTi project has seen an overall investment of R6.5bn by the city as part of our commitment to infrastructure-led growth.”
The city has launched the latest bus route, the N2 Express service, linking Khayelitsha and Mitchells Plain to the city.
De Lille said the service was an example of a smooth and successful industry transition.
Positive relationships had been formed with the Congress for Democratic Taxi Associations and the Route Six Taxi Association. The two bodies had formed a vehicle operating company with Golden Arrow Bus Services and signed a three-year contract, worth around R300m, with the city to run the service.
By September, 88 former taxi drivers would be trained for the N2 Express service. The drivers would have fixed employment benefits such as medical aid, pension, and leave.