Transport and Public Works
Question by:
Hon Daylin Mitchell
Answered by:
Hon Bonginkosi Madikizela
Question Number:
16
Question Body:
With reference to the Golden Arrow Bus Service (GABS):
- (a) Since the commencement of the lockdown, how many (i) attacks on GABS buses have taken place, (ii) charges have been laid and (iii) convictions have been finalised, (b) in what ways has his Department supported the work of the GABS and (c) how is this monitored and evaluated;
- whether his Department has engaged with the SAPS about the safety concerns of the GABS; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Answer Body:
- (i) 247 attacks have occurred on GABS busses since lockdown.
(ii) Charges have been laid for all 247 attacks.
(iii) 5 people have been arrested. As yet no convictions have been
finalised.
- The Department supports the work of GABS through a national Division of Revenue Act (DoRA) grant, the Public Transport Operations Grant (PTOG). This conditional grant provides supplementary funding to subsidise service contracts entered into between the provincial departments of transport and public transport operators for the provision of affordable subsidised transport services.
- The Department has taken responsibility in terms of the contractual agreement through e.g. the effective monitoring of the service by means of an electronic monitoring system (EMS) and the verification of operator claims.
The Department complies with DoRA reporting requirements in terms of submitting monthly and quarterly operational performance and compliance reports to National Department of Transport and Treasury. In addition, an annual evaluation report is submitted within two months of the end of financial year in terms of DoRA.
- The Department has engaged SAPS and other law enforcement agencies at the level of the Provincial Transport Priority Committee to receive priority in as far as it relates to enforcement, investigations and prosecutions.
Date:
Friday, February 12, 2021
