The Polokwane Municipality has signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) on the Polokwane Integrated Public Transport System (PIRPTS) for phase 1a, 1 and 2 with the four affected taxi associations, namely Flora Park Park, Moletjie, Seshego-Polokwane and Westenburg.

The Executive Mayor, Councillor Thembi Nkadimeng says, “The Municipality views the affected operators as key stakeholders towards success of this transport system”. Signing of the MoA sets key milestones that must be met to realise a safe, reliable, affordable, convenient public transport system.

Some of the milestones include undertaking a market survey to determine the market share for the public transport service and establishing a Vehicle Operating Company (VOC) to formalise the affected operators and further streamline operations.

The process of identifying and verifying the PIRPTS affected operators with the active involvement of the Registrar, Operating Licensing Board and the industry has been initiated.

The development of the strategy to outline ownership, financing and procurement of the buses through the Bus Procurement Financing Structure and Strategy has also been initiated.

The processes which inform the development of the Compensation Model Framework and the necessary steps towards achieving this very important milestone have been outlined.

This forms part of the Polokwane Integrated Rapid Public Transport System (PIRPTS) which is within the realm of the Smart Mobility pillar contained in the 2030 Smart City Vision as adopted by council in 2014.