The MEC again donated another 2 graders to Bushbuckridge local municipality on the following day. The donation of these graders started last week when MEC Mabuza donated 2 graders each to Dr JS Moroka Municipality and Thembisile Municipality in Nkangala region of Mpumalanga Province.

The donation of these graders is due to the fact that these rural municipalities do not have the substantially financial capacity to acquire road maintenance equipments needed for maintenance of their dilapidated streets. Last year, the department identified 6 municipalities that hugely need street maintenance graders but constantly fall short of funds to acquire them. The municipalities are Dr JS Moroka, Thembisile, Nkomazi, Dipaliseng, Albert Luthuli, and Bushbuckridge local municipalities. Public transport users in Gert Sibande Region had an opportunity to voice out their opinions to MEC Mabuza on public transport related issues over the past weekend. This event was held at Wesselton stadium in Ermelo.

The Imbizo was part of the department’s annual strategy to evaluate the state of Public Transport System in the Province and eventually come up with intervention plans that will curb the challenges outlined. The department has convened similar events before.

They were held in Secunda, Middelburg and in Mgobodzi area. During those events, public transport commuters raised a number of issues. Their concerns evolved around the overloading practiced by taxi drivers, unroadworthy taxis, and poor public customer care by some taxi drivers.

The Imbizo in that area then highlighted challenges in the public transport industry and also give commuters a chance to voice their views in a bid to make the public transport system better, accessible and affordable.