The Executive Mayor, Geoff Makhubo has acknowledged warnings from the national ministry of transport that if Rea Vaya does not ramp up compliance to public health regulations governing the lockdown, it will be halted from operating.
Makhubo said as Soweto’s mass transit system, Rea Vaya would continue to adhere to lockdown regulations, which restrict public movement to avoid transmissions of the novel coronavirus.
Rea Vaya has come under fire in recent weeks from members of the public, who criticised the bus system for flouting social distancing regulations by operating at full capacity, requesting authorities to intervene.
Transport Minister, Fikile Mbalula has threatened to slap Rea Vaya’s operating company, Piotrans with a hefty penalty if allegations that it disobeys the Disaster Management Act are proven.
The bus system has since installed full-body sanitizing and screening booths at the Thokoza and Orlando Stations in Soweto, which also scan the temperature of each commuter who passes through before boarding a bus. Rea Vaya buses and stations will be sanitized at regular intervals to ensure commuters are safe from contracting or transmitting the Covid-19 pandemic.
“These measures aim to help minimise the risk of spreading the Covid-19 pandemic. Rea Vaya ferries over 45 000 passengers a day and is an important mode of transit, it needs to comply with relevant rules,” said Makhubo, encouraging commuters to maintain social distancing and wear masks when out in public.
The Mayor went on an early morning inspection of Rea Vaya facilities at the Thokoza Station in Soweto accompanied by Mbalula, the Gauteng MEC for Public Transport and Roads Infrastructure Jacob Mamabolo as well as the City’s MMC for Transport, Nonhlanhla Makhuba.
Mbalula vowed that authorities would return to inspect compliance with public health regulations at Rea Vaya stations, warning that he would not hesitate to stop the bus system from operating if it contravenes the law.
“I can’t have Rea Vaya, which is government-sponsored operating outside regulations. I will stop it if I have to, they must respect regulations,” he said.
Under level 4 lockdown stipulations, each Rea Vaya bus is only permitted to operate at 70 percent capacity to ensure social distancing. “Overall I am happy with the sanitising booths that have been installed inside the stations to detect the temperature of all commuters; this is the new way of life,” said Mbalula.
