By Lindiwe Nkosi
 
The Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport and the Ministry of Mobility in the Western Cape held a meeting on Monday, 11 November 2024, to re-establish bilateral cooperation on transport matters affecting both the provinces. The meeting was attended by MEC Kedibone Diale-Tlabela and Mobility Minister Mbulelo Sileku and was held in the City of Tshwane.
 
Under this cooperation agreement, both provinces committed to work on sharing technology and expertise, information and best practices to improve the state of licensing services, law enforcement and developments in green transport initiatives.
 
In her remarks, MEC Diale-Tlabela indicated the session was meant for both provinces to learn from another, streamline plans to the National Department of Transport and establish a platform for sharing best practices.
 
Minister Sileku was appreciative of the relations that have been built over the years by the two Departments. He indicated they were looking forward to enhancing the established relationships.
 
Head of Department Dr Thulani Mdadane highlighted that the Department is also engaged in a similar with KZN Department of Transport as well to establish competences in the public transport area of service delivery. He further indicated the Department was looking forward to cooperating, learning, sharing experiences and expertise with the Western Cape’s Department of Mobility in areas including management of licensing services; traffic law-enforcement, progress on decarbonisation projects and green transport initiatives.
 
In outlining the agenda, Director: Intergovernmental Relations Ms Angela Andrews presented a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) prescripts with key areas of corporation for the establishment of bilateral agreement. These included public transport; transport planning (PLTF/ ITMP25); Rail/TAG; freight management and law enforcement.
 
The meeting also focused on the role of the Gautrain Management Agency (GMA) as a catalyst for innovation in the public transport sector. To this, GMA’s CEO Mr Tshepo Kgobe led discussions on key service offerings that include the modernisation of subsidised bus contracts; introduction of smart licensing centres; working with taxi industry and green transport initiatives, amongst others. He further outlined the successes and positive economic spin-offs that have contributed the growth of the country’s GDP in the past eighteen years since the launch of the Gautrain project.
 
Mr Kgobe also highlighted the strategic importance of the proposed Gauteng-Limpopo Rail Project in promoting socio-economic growth whilst shrinking the divide between the two provinces. This, he added, would be done through seamless mobility, between both provinces, of people, businesses and opportunity as well as a transformational regional spatial development as a result.
 
The MEC reiterated that Gauteng is on its way to become a rail hub, mandated to manufacture and produce trains for the country, region and the continent. She added that it is also important for the GMA to take the lead in discussions to reposition the province as a lead in the development of the rail sector.
 
Minister Sileku also indicated the Western Cape Provincial Government will take full advantage of the rail technical expertise found in Gauteng as it has plans to develop and introduce high speed rails.
 
The Departments have since forged ahead and scheduled operational meetings to discuss functional efficiencies of Public Transport Regulatory Entities (PRE) in dealing with public transport registration, monitoring and enforcement. They also committed to make concerted efforts towards cooperation in improving public transport systems underpinned by social cohesion and economic growth.