Speech: Signing of MOU between PUTCO & City of Jo'burg

The Signing of ther MOU between PUTCO Ltd and the City of Jo'burg

Speech by the PUTCO MD: Mr. Franco Pisapia

The Executive Mayor of the City of Joburg: Councillor; Amos Masondo

The Member of the Mayoral Committee for Transport in the City Of Jo’burg: Mrs. Rehanna Moosajee

The BRT Project Manager: Mr. Bob Stanway and his team

PUTCO Directors and Executives

Ladies and gentlemen

It is a heartwarming experience to address you today on the occasion of the signing of the MOU between PUTCO Limited and the City of Jo’burg on the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRT).

Today’s event signifies the importance of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system in Johannesburg. This system has been hailed as a high quality, customer oriented system which delivers fast, comfortable and low cost urban mobility.

The historic signing we are about to witness, is a product of many months of discussions and hard work, in our quest to deliver a world class transport system for our Province and the City. The Bus Rapid Transit is one such endeavour, that aims to accomplish this ideal.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I believe that every one of us here today, embraces an undeniable reality that transport is the heartbeat of the South African economy. The role of transport as an input sector in the economy is crucial and requires extensive investment in transport infrastructure particularly in cities and towns.

PUTCO is appreciative to have been called upon to partner with the City of Jo’burg in contributing to the transformation of the public transport system. Our company is committed to ensuring that the partnership between all players, succeeds.

We are motivated by the notion that collaboration rather than competition is the formula that propels companies, institutions, organizations and governments to reach greater heights.

The successful implementation of the BRT system will depend largely on the willingness of all parties to collaborate, and ensure that all modes of transport have their rightful place in the system, with correct checks and balances.

Our commitment to share our skills and knowledge for the betterment of all in the industry is demonstrated by our continued willingness to contract emerging bus companies, to operate some of our routes.

PUTCO has for six decades been involved in mass transportation, and we have proven capabilities in managing a large fleet, which today stands at 1900 buses, transporting more than 91 million passengers per annum, in South Africa’s most densely populated urban areas.

More than sixty years of operation has earned us an invaluable knowledge of the South African public passenger transport sector, and positioned us favourably in the bus industry. This experience places us in good stead to ensure a successful implementation of the BRT system.

The introduction of BRT will not only benefit our company, but our passengers and the community at large, who are the main beneficiaries. The Bus Rapid Transit system will help reduce the City’s severely congested roads and assist in improving passenger travel time.

With the capacity to reduce the space occupation of cars on our roads, BRT system emerges as a necessary option for Johannesburg to also help reduce emission of carbon monoxide from traffic.

Let me conclude by expressing our appreciation to the MMC and her team for facilitating discussions with us. In addition, I would like to indicate our commitment to share in the Vision of the City of Jo’burg ,that of transforming the public transport infrastructure into a world class system.

Thank you.