Image: Gautrain website.


It is a well known fact that Johannesburg is a world class city, however, its transport systems did not match up. In 2000 Government took initiative and invested billions of rands to fund infrastructure projects i.e. the Gautrain. This state of the art rail network fares start from R19 to R46 a ticket depending on where you are going.

 

The Gautrains slogan is ‘For people on the move’ One has to ask who are these people? Government says it’s a form of public transport. However, the average Joe can only afford to spend below R20 a day to get from point A to point B and back. Furthermore, the train routes involve Sandton, Rosebank, OR Tambo international airport just to name but a few. There are no routes as yet that cater for the average joe who has to get to town every day.

 

That’s when he or she would have to use a Metro bus-which is never on time. Or simply, the controversial taxi. Both options cost less than the Gautrain and are faster. Two well known radio stations conducted a test between a car and the Gautrain to see which gets to point B the fastest, surprisingly in both cases the car was fastest.

 

According to the city of Johannesburg 100 000 people use the Gautrain, however, these people are not occasional users. In other words the rail network attracts more tourists than the people its intended for. Thus the Gautrain caters for the middle class who can afford to waste money.

 

The average Joe will never see or be on the Gautrain even though it is meant to help them. It is a no wonder that the masses proceed to still cables. One only takes when one sees that by stealing it benefits them more so than not. If and when Government decides to open its eyes and stop spending money to better the lives of the rich, perhaps then and only then will the masses feel catered to.

 

In conclusion, the Gautrain is its own worst enemy because it caters for the minority. Whilst the masses continue to suffer and thus retaliate. By no means is that acceptable for both parties, however, that’s the society South Africa is. Love them or hate the taxi’s are the best alternative transport providers. Perhaps if government works hand-in-hand with the biggest provider of transport in South Africa -billions of money would not be thrown down the drain.