By Libuseng Nyaka
Butana Komphela
QWA QWA – The MEC for Police, Roads and Transport Butana Komphela has hailed the transformation of Maluti Bus Service as an achievement for generations to come.
The chairperson of provincial Taxi council Darkie Qumbu but tressed Komphela’s sentiments adding that the deal was a success as the taxi industry will no longer feel sidelined unlike in the past where only busses were getting subsidies.
Speaking at the launch of the Maluti Bus Service last week ,Komphela stated that the transformation will see taxi owners benefit from government’s subsidies which has a government cover of R270 Million.
The incorporation of the taxi industry into buses under the umbrella of Maluti Bus Service encompasses 60 percent of shareholding by the Taxi Industry, 15 percent Qwa Qwa, Bethlehem 15 percent, Harrismith 10perecnt , Tshiame 5 perecent and 10 percent owned by employees.
Komphela said under this deal everybody will work hard to ensure the success of the new initiative knowing that the profit made will ultimately benefit everyone involved.
The Executive Mayor of Thabo Mofutsanyana district Dr Balekile Mzangwa expressed his gratitude to the provincial government for helping the Thabo Mofutsanyana community.
“The transformation of transport system has positively impacted every life, when there is good transport people are able to access services easily and their lives consequently improve.
“The negotiations culminating into transport transformation begun in 2000 when Free State Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport entered into a negotiated agreement with Buford Investments and the FDC trading as Scoopful 21 (Pty) Ltd to operate bus services in the Qwa Qwa, Harrismith and Bethlehem areas,” he said.
The original contract was divided into two contract areas identified as line haul and internal services. The internal service was to cover areas within Qwa Qwa. The external services were to operate from Qwa Qwa to Bethlehem and Harrismith, and were concluded for a period of five years. The contract was extended for 2 years and has been on month to month renewal since August 2007.
The MEC also took the occasion to donate 100 bicycles to learners who have been travelling to school nearly 40 kilometres.