Note to Editors: Please find attached soundbites in English and Afrikaans by Retief Odendaal MPL and isiXhosa by Bax Nodada MP
- The Norwich bus and taxi terminal in Gqeberha is dark, run-down, dirty and unsafe.
- When the DA takes office upgrading the safety and public amenities of transport hubs will be prioritised.
- Restoring this facility is essential to improving public safety and supporting local economic activity.
Yesterday, I conducted an oversight inspection of the Norwich bus and taxi terminal in Central, Gqeberha and found it dark, run-down, dirty and unsafe.
[This picture shows daytime light-levels inside the terminal. Download pictures here, here and here]
It is in need of maintenance and has become a hotspot for criminal activity, putting commuters and tourists visiting Nelson Mandela Bay at risk.
Transport Month, observed every October, aims to raise awareness of the importance of transport in people’s daily lives and the economy, while promoting a transport system that is safe, reliable, affordable and accessible to all. However, residents and commuters who use this terminal and others across the Metro can attest to the fact that these objectives are not being met.
The state of this facility and many others like it is unacceptable as it plays a vital role in the daily lives of residents.
In Nelson Mandela Bay hundreds of thousands of commuters have to make use of public transportation on a daily basis.
When the DA takes office in Nelson Mandela Bay after the elections on 4 November, upgrading the safety and public amenities of transport hubs will be prioritised. This is aimed at making public commuters’ journeys safer.
Public transport modes will need to complement one another, and therefore the Metro’s troubled IPTS bus services require a redesign plus a new business model if it is to remain viable.
We will ensure that public transport terminals are safe, clean and equipped with high-quality security measures and well-maintained amenities so that it serves commuters and visitors effectively.
Restoring this facility is essential to improving public safety, supporting local economic activity and helping to get Nelson Mandela Bay working for all.
A DA government will double the number of metro police officers and vehicles within the first year of our term and will therefore ensure regular patrols at the terminal to deter criminals.
We will also establish the metro police tourism unit and taxi unit which will patrol Norwich and other public transport sites.
By the end of our five years in office, we will have increased the number of metro police officers to 500. We will also ensure that every ward has a dedicated metro police vehicle conducting patrols 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Furthermore, we will invest in improved public lighting and high-definition CCTV cameras to keep criminals at bay to help ensure that commuters and visitors can use transport terminals safely.
We will also prioritise the cleaning and maintenance at public transport facilities, by investing in cleaning services and partnering with non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
Commuters should not have to risk their safety to get to work, school or home.
The people of the Metro deserve safe, clean and reliable public transport to get Nelson Mandela Bay working for all.