Par-and-Ride System Blasted By Fans

Attendees at a recent Confederations Cup game in Johannesburg expressed complaints over the park-and-ride systems set up to transport people to the stadium.

“The park-and-ride system on Wednesday was horrendous to say the least, because there was a lot of pushing around among fans who were looking for transport and buses to shuttle them back to the various transport hubs,” said one caller.

Angry fans slam park-and-ride fiasco after Egypt-Italy game
The Citizen
June 21, 2009

BRT Postponed in Johannesburg

Amid protests from the taxi industry, the City of Johannesburg has delayed implementation of its citywide bus rapid transit system until August. The system was planned to be in operation by June for the Confederations Cup soccer tournament, but conflicts between the government and angry taxi drivers resulted in the postponement.

Member of the Mayoral Committee responsible for transport, Rehana Mosajee says the BRT project had been on schedule until the decision was made due to ongoing consultations with the taxi industry. About 500 Johannesburg taxis will take part in transporting soccer fans during the Confederations Cup, which begins next week.

This was revealed by the City of Johannesburg at the media launch of "iTransie 2 Ellispark." Taxi drivers and 77 buses will ferry fans to Ellis Park. South African ratepayers having already forked out R1 billion for the BRT system, must now pay R10 million for Plan B.

More than 400 taxi drivers will be paid by the City for their services as all the rides to the stadium will be free. The city insists all the drivers will be trained and the taxi industry says this training is already underway. Drivers will have their criminal records and their vehicles' roadworthiness checked.

JHB shelves BRT on eve of Confed Cup
The Voice of the Cape
June 5, 2009