Large-scale public transportation in Johannesburg including Rea Vaya, Metro Bus, Gautrain and minibus taxis has resumed operations to ferry hordes of commuters back to work following the month-long suspension and scaling down of services for the ‘hard’ lockdown.
The City's Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Transport, Councillor Nonhlanhla Makhuba visited the Rea Vaya station at Thokoza Park in Soweto on Monday, 4 May to ensure commuters and the facility observe level 4 regulations relating of the Disaster Management Act, which governs public health guidelines for the lockdown.
“We’ve checked Thokoza Park station for compliance with level 4 regulations that were announced by the national government. We also checked that all commuters have permits to travel because only essential service workers are permitted to do so. We need to ensure that everyone wears a face mask and that all transport users observe social distancing regulations,” said MMC Makhuba.
In March, municipal operated transport – Rea Vaya and Metro Bus – scaled down operations during off-peak and increased buses during peak hours to ensure commuters adhere to public health protocols of one person per two-seats and two people per three-seats in a bid to flatten the infectious curve of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Buses are now operating at peak and off-peak intervals in compliance with the law.
Minister of Transport, Fikile Mbalula took a Gautrain ride from the Hatfield station in Tshwane on Monday morning to inspect the system’s adherence to safety measures it has been allowed to operate under. Mbalula was impressed with the work Gautrain management has undertaken to adhere to regulations.
“We are happy with the work that Gautrain has done to adhere to government regulations, they have gone above and beyond,” he said.
The Minister added that Prasa commuter trains remain suspended and operations will be reviewed as the country moves to different levels of the lockdown.
In addition, the Gautrain is operating at 20-minute intervals during peak hours and on weekends and public holidays trains are available at 30-minute intervals. The train will operate daily between 5:30am and 9:30am and again between 3pm and 7pm. The Airport service remains suspended until further notice.
All commuters are required to go through full-body sanitisation at all Gautrain Stations, a measure implemented to protect fellow travellers against contracting Covid-19. Other precautionary measures include the compulsory use of face masks, social distancing, disinfecting trains, buses and midi-buses throughout the day, disinfecting touch-points such as handrails, screening all customer-facing staff before resuming their normal duties, providing alcohol-based hand sanitizers at all stations and buses, and the random screening of passengers in collaboration with the Department of Health's field workers.
As usual, Gautrain buses will only operate during the week. The following bus routes are available for commuting:
• M3 – Sunninghill
• S3 – Rivonia
• S4 – Randburg
• S5 – Fourways
• J1 – Parktown
• J2 – Johannesburg CBD
Written by Takalani Sioga
