The Memorandum of Agreement was signed by the City Manager Sibusiso Sithole and Bus Operators represented by the Durban Bus Owners’ Association (BOA), The KwaZulu-Natal Bus Council (KWANABUCO) and the South African Bus Owners’ Association (SABOA).

In 2011, the City started engagements with the leadership of the current public transport industry to be part of a consultation process to discuss their participation in GO!Durban’s operations. The Bus Operators’ MOA will see continued discussion around the contracts for the Bus Operators who will become invested shareholders in the vehicle operating companies (VOC’s) of the IRPTN, together with the mini-bus taxi industry.

Since the launch of GO!Durban, the City has been committed to introducing a new public transport system in partnership with affected public transport operators, including the mini-bus taxi industry with an MOA signed between them and the City in February 2014.

His Worship the Mayor James Nxumalo said at the signing. “Today marks a significant milestone in terms of the rollout of this massive infrastructural programme which will benefit all the people in the City. Operators whose routes will be affected by the GO!Durban operations will have the opportunity to be included in vehicle operating companies, with which the City would negotiate and enter into a contract to operate the services as outlined in the NLTA.”

He explained that the City “is committed to negotiating with these operators with a view of contracts to a maximum of 12 years being awarded, in accordance with the National Land Transport Act, Act No 5 of 2009.”

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