The City is gearing up to host the prestigious 2024 Velosolutions Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Pump Track World Championships Finals on 9 November at the GO!Durban Academy KwaMashu site.

The first ever to be hosted in a township, the KwaMashu GO!Durban Academy park was chosen above Cape Town. The event marks the tail end of the 2024 season and is set to bring the world’s top riders from approximately 20 countries to compete for the World Championship Title.

Tickets will be sold at the gate at R50 per person.

EThekwini Transport Authority’s Acting Head, Nelisiwe Zama said the GO!Durban Academy being chosen to host an event of this magnitude is demonstration of the high standard infrastructure that the Academy has to offer, as it features a world-class Velosolutions asphalt pump track right in the heart of KwaMashu.

“An event of this nature does not only place us on the world map in relation to the cycling sport but has great impact on local tourism, with 60 international riders accompanied by their teams and fans will be staying in Durban. This influx of international visitors will help put Durban on the global tourism map as a must visit destination in South Africa”, concluded Zama.

The event is also set to benefit youth from townships as various community-based cycling races will be hosted the week leading up to the finale. The top four of the community bike series (men and women elite category) will officially qualify for the UCI Pump Track World Championships on 9 November.

The two winners will receive free hotel accommodation like all other international winners. The second, third, and fourth placed riders will be invited to join the after party, rider’s briefing, welcome presentation, and we will be transported daily from their township to the locations. CAPTION: The Velosolutions Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Pump Track World Championships Finals on 9 November will be held at the GO!Durban Academy KwaMashu site.

The City continues to actively promote the safe transportation of school learners by scholar transport drivers through the Safe to School, Safe to Home Scholar Transport Programme.

Wrapping up Transport Month activities the eThekwini Transport Authority’s Road Safety Branch hosted the Safe to School, Safe to Home Scholar Transport Awards ceremony at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre on 30 October 2024.

Scholar transport operator Jerusha Gopal won a new Toyota Quantum vehicle through an electronic lucky draw.

Gopal was among four finalists who recorded no transgressions while transporting scholars over the monitoring period during operating hours.

The programme initially trained 128 drivers. However, only 74 were selected for the five-day road safety workshop.

The remaining 54 drivers were disqualified due to non-compliant vehicles.Gopal said winning the Quantum will allow her to transport more learners to and from school in and around the north of Durban.

“Thank you eThekwini Municipality for allowing the scholar transport sector to participate in this scholar safety project. This is a dream come true. I pledge to continue providing safe and reliable transportation service to my learners, in a new and extra comfortable vehicle,” said Gopal.

The eThekwini Transport Authority partnered with Global Road Safety Partnership, Toyota South Africa Limited, Netstar, Afrofleet and other key stakeholders for the project.

Deputy Chairperson of the Human Settlements and Infrastructure Committee Councillor Sifiso Mkhize explained that the aim of the Safe to School, Safe to Home Scholar Programme is to contribute to the reduction in death and injury of school children in road crashes en route to and from school. It is to also educate drivers on the Children’s Act 38 of 2005, compliance, policies and regulations.

The drivers were scored according to the number of transgressions the tracking devices detected during their drives to school and then during the trip home.The transgressions included speeding, harsh acceleration, and harsh braking.

Suben Moodley Senior Vice President of Corporate Services: Toyota South Africa Motors (Pty) Ltd praised eThekwini Municipality for being the only municipality in the country to rollout this project in addressing the safety of scholars using private transport. Moodley cited statistics from the Road Traffic Management Corporation report on the State of Road Safety.

The 2023 stats revealed that 10 180 vehicle accidents were recorded last year, with a target to reduce this to about 7 000 by 2030. KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) accounted for 1 985 or 19.5% of the accidents.

These accidents resulted in 11 883 fatalities in the country, or 19 per 100 000 people. KZN accounted for 2 229 of the fatalities or 19% of the total. It is reported that road accidents cost the South African economy about R205 billion in 2023, which is about 2.74% of the country’s GDP.This is almost half of the automotive contribution to SA’s GDP.

The National Council of Provinces (NCOP): Select Committee on Public Infrastructure undertook an Oversight visit to the City on Friday, 25 October 2024, with a focus on the GO!Durban Corridor 1 (C1) which runs from the North to the Durban CBD.The Committee was taken on various sites along the C1 Corridor to ensure that there is good progress on the infrastructure. The C1 route is the City’s demonstration of the expansion of the network.

EThekwini Transport Authority’s Deputy Head: Road System Management, Bethuel Manthoadi presented a progress report on the infrastructure of the GO!Durban project. He reported to the Committee that on C1: 6.42 kilometres (km) has been completed out of 27km; on C3: 26 km completed out of 27 km with 24 Feeder transfer stops completed and C9: 4.2 km completed out of 14.5 km.

Manthoadi said, the provision of public infrastructure and reliable, efficient, and affordable public transport is a key requirement for both economic growth and sustaining the livelihoods of households and communities. “The more routes being completed on the network, the closer we get to completing the full infrastructure for the first phase. This project does not only impact transport but has an overall spin off for the city as it contributes to the general transformation of the city.”

The expansion of the GO!Durban network through the implementation of the C1 route (phase one implementation) allows for 65% of eThekwini citizens to gain access to improved, safer and more reliable public transport.

Fitting to the theme of Transport Month ‘Together moving South Africa forward’ the eThekwini Transport Authority (ETA) and the Health Unit teamed up with the bus company Tansnat to roll-out its Health Outreach Programmes. These programmes are aimed at supporting drivers in the bus industry and to ensure their health and wellness.

ETA Acting Head, Nelisiwe Zama said that ETA has collaborated with the Health Unit and Tansnat for educational, training and awareness programmes targeted at drivers within the bus industry. The Bus Drivers Programme kicked off with Defensive Driver training at the Midway Mall on 8 October. The purpose of the training was to reduce further bus crashes and to empower the drivers to be proactive in managing scheduled trips. Zama said that ETA had targeted five depots for the Health and Wellness Outreach Programmes, primarily in the north and south sub districts.

Drivers had the opportunity to undergo comprehensive health screening and testing services, amongst other services offered by the City’s Health Unit. The programme also consisted of educational talks on mental and physical wellness, HIV AIDS awareness and the importance of family planning. Provincial Health and Healthy Systems Trust, a non-profit organisation also supported the programme.

Gugu Bhengu Gwala Deputy Head: Social Health EThekwini Municipality explained: “October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Mental Health Month, National Nutrition Week, etc., which are our priorities for the month. However, October is also Transport Month, and this marks a remarkable period for the Transport and Health sectors to enhance driver health and road safety by offering accessible health screenings at convenient locations,” said Gwala.

ETA commenced with the Health and Wellness Outreach Programme at the City Fleet Depot in Alice street, Durban central. The Outreach programmes ran on the week of 22 – 25 October in various depots.

The eThekwini Transport Authority (ETA) conducted a Road Safety Walk to raise awareness on road safety in communities. The walk started at King Dinuzulu Road, proceeding into the city centre, before heading back to the starting point at the park.Road safety is a critical concern in eThekwini and the ETA believes that by coming together, a meaningful impact can be made towards promoting safer streets for everyone.

Mlungisi Wosiyana, Deputy Head of Public Transport, said the road safety walk provided an excellent opportunity for the City to raise awareness of Transport Month by spreading the message of responsible road behavior and the importance of obeying traffic rules. “This was also an opportunity to engage with community members, local businesses, and organisations committed to road safety. Collectively we can advocate for improved road infrastructure, pedestrian safety, and responsible driving and walking habits,” said Wosiyana.

ETA has kicked off the first week of Transport Month with live community radio broadcasts on road safety, followed by the two-day New Energy Vehicle Indaba and the road safety walk. A series of activities are planned for Transport Month which includes ETA visiting primary schools in eThekwini to implement road safety education programmes as well as enforcement campaigns for heavy goods vehicles.

ETHEKWINI Municipality kicked off Transport Month by affirming that the City is well on its way when it comes to its e-mobility journey. The City is achieving this by implementing practical steps in transport transition.

The City, through the eThekwini Transport Authority Unit, is in the process of procuring electric and hybrid vehicles for its Municipal fleet. The Unit has also planned a series of Transport Month activities to raise awareness of road safety, the City’s public transport cashless system (MUVO) and to highlight some of the services that the Unit offers the public.

EThekwini Mayor Councillor Cyril Xaba made these announcements during the second New Energy Vehicles (NEV) Indaba which took place at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre on 2 and 3 October. The NEV Indaba was held in partnership with eThekwini Municipality and Mobility Solutions Africa. The inaugural Indaba was also held in Durban. This year’s event saw industry leaders, policy makers, and manufacturers meet to share ideas on economic and job creation opportunities that can be derived in the manufacturing of NEV’s.

Mayor Xaba said: “EThekwini Municipality continues to implement strategies aimed at reducing emissions and air pollution. Hosting the Indaba in Durban sends a clear message that we are now positioning the City as a major player in the NEV manufacturing space.

More importantly, we want to be a leader in the electric vehicle manufacturing sector in the country as we believe this will be one of the key contributors towards achieving the goal of building a climate resilient City.” To demonstrate the City’s readiness, two years ago eThekwini Municipality became the first metro in the country to be allowed by National Treasury and the Department of Minerals and Energy to procure new generation capacity from Independent Power Producers.

Photo caption: EThekwini Mayor Councillor Cyril Xaba test drove one of the electric vehicles on display at the New Vehicle Energy Indaba. Mayor Xaba said the City will continue to seize opportunities that are available in the renewable energy sector.

FOUR students from the GO!Durban Academy in Inanda received national colours at the South African Championships of the Performing Arts (SACOPA) held in Rustenburg on Saturday, 29 September 2024.

The talented students performed in the dancing, singing and acting categories and brought home a total of 33 gold medals, five silver and one bronze.Additionally, Scebi Mpanza received an overall Outstanding Achievement Award. This year marks the third consecutive year that GO!Durban Academy young stars qualify, partake, and bring home gold from the national stage.

Furthermore, in 2023 the team participated in the World Performing Arts Championship held in Los Angeles where they scooped 51 gold medals and 18 silver medals after competing against participants from 70 countries.

The students have been trained and developed by the GO!Durban Musical Theatre Programme, a youth development initiative by the eThekwini Transport Authority.

The programme is a branch of the GO!Durban Academy and offers free weekly classes in singing, acting, and dancing in the communities of Inanda, KwaMashu, and KwaDabeka.

Photo caption: Sbusiso Msomi, Scebi Mpanza, Khethukuthula Ngcobo, and Skhulile Gwala scooped gold once again at the South African Championships of the Performing Arts.

Public Notice:

The public is advised of construction activity in and around 11th Avenue, Clermont and at the off ramp. The construction work is on the south and north bound. This is to allow essential construction work on the GO!Durban C3 route and work is expected to be complete by February 2026.  

During the construction period road closures will be as follows:

• 11th Avenue on ramp will be closed.
• Cumnor Garden Road will be closed off at two intersections: Cumnor Garden and Chris Hani Roads intersection and White Horse and Cumnor Garden Roads intersection.

Motorists, commuters, public transport operators and residents are requested to please use alternate routes.

A new transformed public transport system is on the cards for eThekwini commuters as the city engages with the taxi and bus operators on the Tactical Adjustment Roadmap that will see a seamless transport network, automated fare collection and a single smart card ticketing system being implemented in the future.

EThekwini Municipality held an engagement with taxi and bus operators on 8 May 2024, to present the Tactical Adjustment Roadmap. This is a revised approach to implement the City’s Integrated Public Transport Network, GO!Durban. 

It involves optimising routes and integrating services of 16 existing citywide contracts currently running in the City to create on seamless network in line with the Integrated Public Transport Network (IPTN).

This includes the C3 route, Priority Feeder contracts, existing contracts, and the Inner-City Distribution System. 

This approach requires the taxi and bus industry to formalise their business operations leading to an improved public transport system.

“The Tactical Adjustment Framework aims to support the progressive transformation of the existing industry, maximise the supply of passengers to the IPTN corridors and ensure a single ticketing solution is applied across all road-based modes of public transport in the eThekwini region, said Thami Manyathi, Head of eThekwini Transport Authority.

“The commencement of Priority Feeder Route contracts is expected to be in June this year, while 12-month contracts are expected to be finalised by September, seven year contracts by October 2025 and five year contracts by November 2032. The City is committed to working with the transport operators on the implementation of this Tactical Adjustment framework,” he said.

Deputy Chairperson of the Human Settlements and Infrastructure Committee, Councillor Bheki Ngwengwe said: “For an Integrated Public Transport Networks such as GO!Durban, the city is required by law under the National Land Transport Act of 2009 to integrate the existing operators of the mini bus taxi and bus industries into the new system. The City could not achieve an agreement with operators despite numerous engagements and negotiations in the past. We have since amended the approach of how to implement the programme, which we have found to be more acceptable and suitable across many stakeholders.”

Councillor Mngwengwe added that the new system requires that they move from being an informal business operation to a fairly sophisticated operation. 

“The Tactical Adjustment contracts are complex and require adherence to things such as schedules, adopting different employment practices and general formal business practices. We are aware that this is a totally different world to the current practices hence we are conducting such engagements like today to support the sector during this significant transformation process,” he concluded.