The City of Ekurhuleni says it will extend the services of its Harambee Rapid Bus Transport System as a practical example of how it’s contributing to the transformation and modernization of the public transport system within the City.

The Harambee Starter Service, which is celebrating its first year of operations, will now include 10 new Harambee buses which will be added to the current operational fleet during November.

“An additional 22 new Harambee Buses will be added to the operational fleet from Mid-January 2019 and all buses will be universally accessible and will cater to passengers with special needs,” the municipality notes.

Complimentary route

The municipality says that during the month of November it will also add a complimentary route to the current service that will operate from the terminus at Tembisa Hospital with curbside stops all the way to Oliver Reginald Tambo International Airport (ORTIA).

“The route will consist of 28km in one direction and 56km round trip. Services will commence at 03:45am with a bus leaving Tembisa Hospital to ORTIA. There will be no services over weekends and public holidays and a R13.00 flat fare will be charged to utilise the system.”

Cashless ticketing

Turing to technology the City adds that a cashless Harambee Europay Mastercard and VISA (EMV) card will be introduced as a reloadable bus ticket.

“We will be piloting the service during the month November 2018, thereafter commuters will be given a period to migrate from the current fare collection system,” it highlights.

The City says it remains committed to strengthening a healthy working relationship with the Ekurhuleni Taxi Industry (ETI) and KTVR Taxi Associations.