By Mapaballo Borotho
- The Gautrain will officially be handed over to the Gauteng government at the end of March.
- This announcement has left a bitter taste in most commuters’ mouth with many hoping for the same reliability and speed after the change of management.
- Gautrain commenced operations in 2010, operated by the Bombela Operating Company (BOC).
It is known for taking people to different destinations within a few minutes, reliable, affordable prices, and always on time.
Gautrain has been one of Gauteng’s most successful modes of transport, used by thousands of commuters on a daily basis.
It connects two major cities, Pretoria and Johannesburg in a space of 30 minutes, and has made travelling so easy for most commuters who work in different parts of these cities without juggling traffic.
Now, there’s been mixed reactions on social media following an announcement that the Gautrain will now be handed over to the Gauteng Provincial Government.
Gauteng Finance and Economic Development MEC, Lebogang Maile confirmed on Sunday that the process to select a new operator for Gautrain is now at an advanced stage.
The fast train will officially be handed over to the Gauteng government as its asset at the end of March after concluding all its repayments to Bombela Concession Company (BCC).
“We have finished paying for Gautrain. When we built Gautrain, we spent R26 billion. Today, as we speak to you, and by the end of March when we receive the asset, it’s worth anything between 45 and 50 billion rand. That’s the asset of the Gauteng government. So that’s the power of the PPP,” said Maile.
The provincial government appointed the BCC in 2006 to design, build, operate, maintain and partially finance the Gautrain project.
The Gautrain commenced operations in 2010, operated by the Bombela Operating Company (BOC).
This announcement has left a bitter taste in most commutters’ mouth with many hoping for the same reliability and speed after the change of management.
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