Nearly four years of work have paid off in an historic agreement between the City of Johannesburg and the taxi industry, which will be shareholders in Rea Vaya.

THERE'S the World Cup; then there's the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system. Both are a first for the country and for the continent.

The BRT, or Rea Vaya, has taken a huge leap forward this week.

Executive mayor Amos Masondo praised the 'pioneers' of the Bus Rapid Transit system, Rea Vaya

The City of Johannesburg and the taxi industry have signed an historic agreement – to hand over the BRT to the industry, allowing it to become shareholders in a new Bus Operating Company.

"It gives me great pleasure to announce that we have reached an historic transformation milestone in the Rea Vaya BRT project," said Executive Mayor Amos Masondo at a press briefing on Tuesday morning, 8 June.

"A process that started almost four years ago and included study tours, workshops, seminars and numerous meetings, is now coming to fruition."

The agreement had been reached after 10 months of "intensive negotiations".

It means that 585 minibus taxis will be removed from specific routes, and those owners will become shareholders in the new company. Some 1 200 taxis will remain on those routes. Taxi owners will hand in their vehicles and permits, in exchange for shares in the new company.

The mayoral committee member for transport, Rehana Moosajee

In the new company, drivers will be paid a fee per kilometre travelled, on agreed routes.

Both parties would continue to strive for the "realisation of an integrated transport system that is affordable, fast, safe and reliable".

"It is an example of a broad-based, black economic empowerment initiative," said Masondo.

He added that all involved could be considered pioneers, "men and women whose bold and visionary leadership will serve to inspire many in and outside the taxi industry".

The importance of the agreement led the national minister of transport and his deputy to send messages of congratulations too. The minister, S'bu Ndebele, also said the City of Johannesburg was a pioneer.

"This has taken a special kind of courage and steadfastness."

He said the City and the taxi industry must be congratulated for their efforts. "Rea Vaya is changing perceptions of public transport."

Deputy Minister Jeremy Cronin added: "Reaching agreement was always going to be a most delicate and sensitive task." It was particularly significant because it was reached within two days of the start of the World Cup.

SHAREHOLDERS

In the coming months, all shareholders will accept a written offer from the City. The new company will be formally constituted, board members will be appointed and key management positions will be filled. The formal handover from the existing temporary bus operating company will take place.

These details are in the Negotiation Closure Agreement signed by the City and the negotiating team on Friday, 4 June. This means that the negotiations are now formally closed.

The taxi industry has been represented by the heads of the two largest associations – the Top Six Taxi Association chairman Sicelo Mabaso, and Eric Motshwane, the chairman of the Greater Johannesburg Regional Taxi Council. They were members of the BRT Joburg Taxi Industry Steering Committee.

"It took us more than two years of serious and continuous engagement with the City and other government institutions to understand the business proposition of the City and realise its potential to the future of the taxi operators and the economic and social empowerment potential thereof," said Motshwane.

Mabaso noted: "The BRT concept has been introduced successfully internationally in communities with similar social and economic circumstances as found in South Africa and provided an interesting option to the taxi operators to expand into other modes of transport and thus receive much prolonged attention from the government."

There are other taxi associations outside of the present agreement, who Motshwane believes will enter the arrangement in time. The member of the mayoral committee for transport, Rehana Moosajee, concurs with this.

SOWETO

The BRT was launched in August 2009, with routes running between Soweto and the CBD, complemented by buses running an inner city route. The buses have been hugely welcomed by the public, which has been empowered by having been given a choice of public transport.

Feeder buses now run from Protea Glen to Thokoza Park, and from Eldorado Park to Lakeview. These buses take passengers to the trunk route stations, which take them to and from the CBD on designated bus lanes. The inner city circular route travels around the CBD – from Hillbrow and Braamfontein to Ellis Park in the east, and Chancellor House on the western edge of the city.

Construction continues in the suburb of Coronation, passing Helen Joseph Hospital and along Kingsway Road, up Empire Road, then into the CBD. This route is expected to open mid-2011.

Masondo said there had been willingness on both sides to focus on the bigger picture.

"Our engagement was characterised by robust and frank discussions," he said, adding that the two parties were able to amicably resolve many issues.

NEGOTIATIONS

Negotiations reached a successful conclusion with the help of negotiation facilitators. Charles Nupen, Pete Harris, Tefo Raditipole and Tanya Venter were called in to help smooth the way.

The mayor thanked them, saying their "collective wisdom and experience" assisted greatly in making the project a reality. He also thanked the executive director of transport, Lisa Seftel, and Moosajee, saying both had provided determined and passionate leadership.

His thanks went too to the national and provincial departments of transport, and the provincial department of community safety, all of which had provided ongoing support.

Masondo paid special tribute to the late Sipho Mtambo, the president of the Top Six Taxi Association. "He played an important role in helping to ensure that the taxi industry was brought on board. Today's achievement is a fitting tribute to the role that he has played."

Mabaso praised the partnership that had been formed. "Perhaps the key value achieved in the negotiation process must be the true partnership and trust created between our government and the taxi industry."

He was grateful for the "tremendous support" of the mayoral committee, the mayor and Moosajee, who had all played the "most significant role in achieving the long-term partnership".

"Things are changing and they need to change. Many more challenges will arise in future. There is no doubt in my mind that we will be able to handle those challenges."

Motshwane added: "I wish to thank all members of the BRT steering and technical committees who [have] provided support and guidance to the taxi industry members since the inception of this project."

The "challenges and sacrifice has been worthwhile".

COMMUTERS

The mayor stressed that the BRT would improve the quality of life of commuters and residents of Joburg. "The City is deeply indebted to operators and their leaders for pioneering such a great idea. We salute them for their bravery, patience, perseverance, their courage and determination."

Many of them had withstood threats to themselves and their taxis. "We thank them for remaining committed to the process despite the victimisation, loss of income and violence."

The BRT would play a role in reducing carbon emissions and as a result help to save the planet. This meant that it was more than just an ordinary bus system, he said. It was a project about transformation.

"We can proudly say that Rea Vaya is a bus company owned by the taxi industry – a legacy beyond the 2010 FIFA World Cup™," concluded Masondo.