Public Transport Voice and Metrorail commuters protest the proposed price hike of train fares effective from 1 July 2015.
Public Transport Voice (PTV) advocates for quality and equality in the South African public transport sector, with the firm belief that this will give the poor and working classes more and better opportunities. The new fare increases will affect marginalised communities the most – and achieve the direct opposite of what we are advocating for.
After last year’s price hikes commuters saw no improvement in the system – in fact, it is deteriorating month by month. Delays, fewer trains and carriages, signal problems, dangerous infrastructure due to lack of maintenance, poor communication and crime spiralling out of control – commuters are robbed on peak hour trains, even at gunpoint, security is lax, women and children are not safe making their way home at night after delays, and people are in danger of losing their jobs because of chronic lateness.
PTV is calling on the National Department of Transport, Metrorail and PRASA to act accountably, manage budgets responsibly, and fulfil the basic mandates of public transport: Reliable, Safe, Affordable, Accessible, Clean.
An efficient, well-run public transport system benefits the economy, as workers are able to get to and from work on time; students and learners can get to their classes and exams; traffic and parking pressures in cities are eased; jobs are created; and tourism is boosted. It also benefits the environment by providing transportation with a low carbon footprint.
After 21 years of democracy the South African public transport system remains vastly underserviced and underdeveloped and poses an obstacle to equality, opportunity, dignity, freedom and safety. Commuters are marginalised stakeholders in the public transport system and PTV aims to usher in active participation and engagement between service providers and commuters.
