By Nokwazi Molefe 
On Sunday, 21 July 2024, the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport led by MEC Kedibone Diale-Tlabela held the Transport Authority of Gauteng’s (TAG) strategic planning session to map the way forward. The three-day (21-23 July 2024) meeting took place at the NH Hotels and Resorts in Sandton in Johannesburg.
Its purpose was to assist in capacitating the entity to fulfil its mandate and also served as induction for the interim board members. 
TAG is an entity of the Department established through the Gauteng Transport Authority Act 2 of 2019. It is tasked with creating an integrated and sustainable transport system in the province. As a transport authority, its main responsibilities include planning‚ coordination‚ optimisation‚ rationalisation and facilitation of public transport functions‚ authorities‚ systems and resources within a city, municipality or province.
Chaired by its interim board member, Professor Mfanelo Ntsobi, the session was also attended by Head of Department Dr Thulani Mdadane, TAG’s acting CEO Mr Tshepo Kgobe, outgoing TAG CEO Mr Jack Van der Merwe, interim board members, Mr Sipho Mtshali from the Office of the Premier, representatives from the Gauteng Department of Economic Development, Dr Mathetha Mokonyama from the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), municipalities, industry experts/sector specialists, Gauteng City Region Observatory, institutions of higher learning (WITS) and officials from the department. Highlighting the purpose of the meeting, 
MEC Diale-Tlabela noted that “this meeting aims to reposition the Department and all its entities”. She added “we cannot appoint a board only to repeat what previous board members did.” 
The MEC further touched on the crisis involving public transport, as evidenced by the processing of operating licenses with no plans as to where to operate. This, she added, resulted in congested and blocked central business districts, thus showing a big disconnect in the provision of public transport services. In his presentation, the Head of Department pointed to how the Department can capacitate the entity in its role to fulfil its mandate in line with priorities of the Seventh Administration as outlined by President Cyril Ramaphosa. 
“Overall, the aim is to realign and reshape the TAG to meet the priorities of the Seventh Administration on transport. These are - Driving inclusive growth and job creation, reducing poverty and cost of living and building a capable and ethical development state”. With more than 75% of Gauteng’s population reliant on public transport to commute, the following issues necessitated the intervention and formation of a transport authority - the high cost of living, as the average person in Gauteng spends between 35% and 50% on transport costs; traffic congestion and an increase in urban passenger and goods mobility; the need to go green and lower South Africa’s carbon emissions amongst others. 
In response, one of TAG’s objectives is to reduce congestion by convincing motorists to swop their vehicles for various public transport modes available.. This, the entity concedes, can only be achieved if public transport is accessible, reliable, safe and affordable. According to CSIR’s Dr Mathetha Mokonyama, the council spends in excess of R10 million on research resources as well as advising the entity to undertake projects gradually, as opposed doing everything all at once. 
In his presentation, TAG’s Interim CEO Mr. Tshepo Kgobe prioritised resolving today’s problems to avoid tomorrow’s crises. The meeting tackled critical issues related to public transport, discussed and set short term objectives, and a number of immediate priorities and risk areas were identified. This also included better transport demand management and optimisation of transport resources with multimodal ticketing amongst some of the measures to be undertaken. 
The key role of municipalities was highlighted in relation to the provision of quality public transport to residents. They emerged as central and key stakeholders as the bulk of work involves collaboration with them. The role of law enforcement within the transport industry was raised as a department’s priority whilst the interim board was tasked with setting up and operationalising the entity in the three months to follow. 
In capacitating the entity, the session resolved to adopt the Department of Public Service and Administration’s standards for recruitment of competent staff and that form would follow function. At the core of the session was a need to ensure that TAG is repositioned as a centre of excellence and a focal point in transport-related data working with the CSIR. It is also expected to provide leadership on policy matters across the transport sector, rendering customer-centric services, improving safety, security and commuter experience, all the while enhancing investment in the province.