AFTER months off the roads, the Integrated Public Transport System (IPTS) is officially up and running again, as of June 8.
Gqeberha and Kariega commuters can use the Libhongolethu Bus Service, according to the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality.
In August last year the buses were taken off the road due to safety concerns, as the condition of the vehicles was unsafe for commuters.
At the time, Municipal Roads and Transport political head, Bradley Murray, made the decision to take the buses off the road following an assessment which indicated that most of the buses needed serious mechanical work and others required general service.
Earlier this year, Murray visited Volvo to oversee the ongoing progress in repairing 25 Libhongolethu buses, with the buses having had extensive damage.
“For too long has the IPTS been seen as just another project, that could possibly be the reason why everyone wanted it canned, and never had the appetite to fully tackle it at its root cause. We see the IPTS as an important component to service delivery within Nelson Mandela Bay. Yes, having the most affordable method of transport available to our residents is indeed a service delivery mandate.
“I am proud to say that we strive to bring only the best form of public transport to our residents,” Murray said.
A local, Siyamthanda Khwezi, expressed his relief at the return of the buses.
“It’s been so long; I’m glad the buses are finally back. As a student, travelling between New Brighton and the CBD daily is very costly, so the buses will really help alleviate a lot of financial burden for my mother,” he said.
Three days after the return of the buses, Murray said, “We only had one incident where criminals hurled stones at a bus, breaking a window, but fortunately nobody was hurt.”
Tickets are sold at Metro customer care centres in Cleary Park Mall, Lillian Diedericks Building in Govan Mbeki Avenue and shops along the Stanford road and near Cleary Park Mall.
Pick-up will be as follows:
04:40 – Baatjies Street in Booysen Park
05:00 – Norman Middleton in Cleary Park
Buses will be available every 30 minutes. Tickets will cost R8 on the feeder taxis, and R10 on the buses.
