Van der Merwe to lead establishment of Gauteng Transport Authority

Van der Merwe to lead establishment of Gauteng Transport Authority

 

18th April 2019

By: Irma Venter
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

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Gautrain Management Agency (GMA) CEO Jack van der Merwe will, in the short term, steer the establishment of the Gauteng Transport Authority (GTA), says Gauteng Roads and Transport MEC Dr Ismail Vadi.

‘Short term’ refers to a period of six months.

Van der Merwe will remain in his position as head of the GMA during this six-month period. Following the six-month period, the arrangement will be reviewed.

Speaking at the Transport Forum held in Pretoria, on Thursday, Vadi noted that Van der Merwe would “start from today” to establish the GTA.

The Gauteng provincial government adopted the GTA Bill earlier this year.

The Bill provides for the creation of a transport authority across the Gauteng city region, incorporating the provincial Department of Roads and Transport and various municipal transport administrations.

The GTA will be responsible for integrated transport planning across local and provincial boundaries; contracting and management of subsidised transport services and enforcement and regulation of public transport operations.

The GTA will be governed by a board of directors, which will be broadly representative of the authorities it is coordinating, as well as a number of transport specialists.

Vadi emphasised on Thursday that the Gauteng government did not envisage the GTA to be “a large body filled with political office bearers”.

He said it was important for the GTA to be a streamlined entity.

“It should be a technical administrative unit with a high level of expertise . . . otherwise it becomes a political platform that does not move us forward.”

Vadi said ensuring a high level of technical expertise in the GTA would be in keeping with global standards at transport authorities worldwide

 

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