NCOP delegates push for resolution on delays in the Go! Durban bus project
The Go! Durban Queen Nandi bus station in KwaMashu. MPs from the National Council of Provinces are seeking to intervene in the stalled public transport project.
Image: Independent Newspapers Archives
A high-level delegation from the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) in KwaZulu-Natal has sought to intervene in the long-standing stalemate over the R9 billion Go! Durban bus project in the eThekwini Municipality.
The delegates have called for all stakeholders, including taxi operators, to appear before the Select Committee on Infrastructure in Parliament. The project kicked off close to 10 years ago and despite the infrastructure being built, it has failed to launch due to a stalemate between the City and taxi operators over the ownership of the buses.
The NCOP delegation, led by KwaZulu-Natal provincial whip Mzamo Billy, met with eThekwini Municipality's executive leadership this week, following its September 2024 Provincial Week oversight programme.
The meeting included mayor Cyril Xaba and senior city management, and focused on infrastructure delivery bottlenecks, with the Go! Durban project at the centre of discussions.
The meeting welcomed a resolution that all stakeholders involved in the Go! Durban project, including taxi operators, be formally invited to appear before Parliament.
The delegation said it would write to the committee chairperson Frederik Badenhorst, to consider the decision.
'This initiative seeks to break the current impasse over equity disputes and ensure inclusive participation in shaping the future of public transport in eThekwini,' the delegation said in a statement.
The delegation reaffirmed that delays in the project undermine access and mobility for thousands of commuters and urged a swift, transparent resolution of the issues.
Progress in other critical service delivery initiatives was also noted. The Hammarsdale Wastewater Treatment Plant has recorded R52 million in current expenditure and 35% completion, with officials committing to addressing earlier delays relating to design, procurement, and funding cycles.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Eyewitness News
14 hours ago
- Eyewitness News
Ramaphosa pays tribute to anti-apartheid activist and reverend, Dr Tshenuwani Farisani
JOHANNEBSURG - President Cyril Ramaphosa has paid tribute to anti-apartheid activist and reverend, Dr Tshenuwani Farisani, describing him as an extraordinary man who will be dearly remembered. Ramaphosa was speaking at Farisani's funeral at the University of Venda in Thohoyandou, Limpopo. The reverend is being honoured with a special official provincial funeral. Family, mourners and top government officials, including president Ramaphosa and Limpopo Premier, Dr Phophi Ramathuba, gathered to pay their final respects to reverend Farisani. A Lutheran minister and black consciousness activist, Farisani played a key role in the struggle against Apartheid. His activism led to his appointment as a member of Parliament and later Speaker of the Limpopo provincial legislature in 2004. The 76-year-old died on Thursday after suffering from an undisclosed illness. President Ramaphosa said: "These experiences instilled in him a deep sense of understanding injustice. It was planted in the mind and the head of Dr Farisani, the seeds of political consciousness when he was still a teen." He is survived by his wife, two daughters, and a son.
IOL News
17 hours ago
- IOL News
South Africa's Innovation Fund pilot phase shows promise amid challenges
THE Department of Science, Technology and Innovation recently briefed Parliament on the results of its five-year Innovation Fund pilot phase, revealing that 96 startups had been supported since 2020. Image: AI Ron THE Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) recently briefed Parliament on the results of its five-year Innovation Fund pilot phase, revealing that 96 startups had been supported since 2020 — but with glaring disparities in provincial representation and private-sector hesitancy threatening its scalability. Acting director-general Gugulethu Zwane, leading the DSTI delegation, framed the Innovation Fund as a response to the White Paper on Science, Technology, and Innovation, implemented through the Decadal Plan. Mlungisi Cele, the newly appointed director-general and former chief executive of the National Advisory Council on Innovation (Naci), emphasised the Fund's role in commercialising innovation. 'The Fund includes interventions aligned with the Decadal Plan's objectives, with measurable indicators to track progress,' he said. Konanani Rashamuse, DSTI chief technocrat, detailed the 'Fund on Funds' (FOFs) model, where government seed capital attracts private investment. To date, R265 million in public funds has leveraged R1.3 billion — a fivefold multiplier effect. Three FOFs have been established, including the High Impact Seed Fund and the Public Investment Corporation Technology Development Fund. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ However, Cele admitted that South Africa lagged behind Nigeria, Kenya, and Rwanda in venture capital activity. 'One of our goals is to scale up and position South Africa as a leader,' he said. MPs grilled the DSTI on stark inequities. Gauteng and the Western Cape account for 80% of funded startups, leaving other provinces underserved. The MK Party's Thembinkosi Mjadu demanded action: 'What measures will ensure equal geographic distribution?' Rashamuse pointed to the DSTI/EPF Tech Fund Venture Building Programme, targeting underrepresented regions, but conceded more work was needed. Gender transformation remains another hurdle. 'The venture capital industry lacks enough first-time female innovators,' Rashamuse acknowledged. Cele highlighted the Women in Technology and Innovation Programme, launched in March 2025, as a step forward. Rashamuse admitted high failure rates are inherent in venture capital but argued even a 10% success rate could yield a significant impact. 'We need a large enough pipeline to sustain failures while ensuring the successes create social impact,' he said. A major concern is private-sector engagement. Cele cited 'risk aversion' and 'lack of policy certainty' as barriers. Rashamuse added that stronger data transparency could rebuild trust. 'We must position the Fund as an attractive investment for the private sector,' he said. Meanwhile, budget constraints loom. Cele revealed Minister Blade Nzimande is lobbying Treasury for increased funding, noting South Africa's innovation budget pales in comparison to global peers. Despite challenges, Rashamuse showcased standout startups: Stone Three: AI-driven mining tech operated from Cape Town but deployed globally. AI-driven mining tech operated from Cape Town but deployed globally. Artisan Biomed: Precision medicine using DNA-based diagnostics for African patients. Precision medicine using DNA-based diagnostics for African patients. LignOrganic: Waste-reducing biomass solutions from macadamia nut shells. Looking ahead, DSTI plans to: Scale the Fund and assess the pilot phase independently. Boost youth and female participation through targeted programmes. Develop a digital dashboard for monitoring. Host the SA Tech Challenge 2025 in Cape Town to spur innovation. Chairperson Tsakani Shiviti from the ANC stressed the need for a 'coherent system' bridging grassroots entrepreneurship to commercial markets. 'We must close the gap between development and local product accessibility,' she said. The ANC's Vusumuzi Nkosi pushed for metrics tracking long-term social impact, while the DA's Natasha Mazzone called for expert-backed responses in future briefings. As the meeting adjourned, the message was clear: The Innovation Fund has potential, but without equitable distribution, private-sector buy-in, and sustainable funding, its promise may remain unfulfilled.
Eyewitness News
2 days ago
- Eyewitness News
NCOP adopts ethics report that will see several MPs, Cabinet ministers fined for not disclosing interests
CAPE TOWN - The National Council of Provinces (NCOP) has adopted a joint ethics report that will see several MPs and members of Cabinet fined for not disclosing their interests. The committee's report was earlier adopted by the National Assembly, but required the NCOP's adoption before the penalties of up to R10,000 could be implemented against them. Those who failed to disclose their public and confidential interests include the likes of Deputy Minister of Public Works Sihle Zikalala, as well as Minister in the Presidency Maropene Ramokgopa. The NCOP on Thursday considered the report of the joint committee on ethics and members' interests on non-disclosure of members' interests for 2024. It found several members in contravention of the code of ethical conduct and disclosure of members' interests. Co-chairperson of the committee, Henni Britz, reminded members about some of the penalties imposed on the transgressing MPs. "In respect of the Honourable Sihle Zikalala, the member failed and or neglected to submit both the public and confidential disclosure by the due date of 14 October 2024, and therefore the committee recommends to the House that a penalty of a reprimand in the House, a fine of R10,000 for a first offence be imposed." All nine provinces represented in the NCOP supported the adoption of the report, which means the sanctions against the MPs will now come into effect.
