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North West Business 2020-21 Edition

  • Text
  • Invest
  • Manufacturing
  • Parks
  • Zones
  • Business
  • Investment
  • Industrial
  • Africa
  • Africa
  • Province
  • Programme
  • Banking
  • Provincial
  • Platinum
  • Sector
  • Mining
  • Municipality
  • Tourism
  • Province
  • Rustenburg
The guide to business and investment in the North West Province, South Africa. The 2020/21 edition of North West Business marks the 10th publication of this highly successful journal that, since its launch in 2009, has established itself as the premier business and investment guide for the North West Province. North West Business includes news and analysis of the most important sectors, with a regional overview covering the strategic thinking behind plans to attract investment into the province. Best known for its platinum mines, grain and livestock farming and tourism, the province is making a concerted effort to bolster its manufacturing capacity. Corridor development, agri-parks and the creation of a Special Economic Zone are among the economic stimulus plans covered in this edition.

FOCUS Rustenburg Rapid

FOCUS Rustenburg Rapid Transport explained The Yarona Bus service will improve connectivity and access. The Rustenburg Local Municipality is getting closer to its vision of turning Rustenburg into a “world-class city”. With the Rustenburg Rapid Transport project, the city has invested heavily in public transport infrastructure, resulting in job creation and small business development. The project will improve efficiency in public transport by introducing the Yarona Bus, an Integrated Public Transport System that will soon ferry commuters from their places of work or homes to their destinations. The launch of Yarona Bus service will commence with a mixed fleet of 10 standard buses and up to 200 minibus taxis with the entire mixed fleet managed by the bus operating company (BOC) formed by the affected minibus taxi and bus operators. RRT is engaging these affected minibus taxis and bus operators thoroughly and they are expected to enter into various agreements with the municipality to implement an integrated public transport system in the City of Rustenburg. Over the next three years, the services are expected to be increased to cover more areas and commuters, with Contact details Theron Rapoo Tel: +27 14 590 3721 Email: trapoo@rustenburg.gov.za more buses to be purchased to replace and in some areas, to integrate with the minibus taxis on some of the routes. Rustenburg aims to be one of the cities to integrate the minibus taxi system with buses, which will operate under the company management. Affected drivers from the minibus taxi industry will also be afforded an opportunity to be trained to drive buses should they qualify and be employed by the company. Other affected employees of the minibus taxi industry will be trained for other employment opportunities within the company, as will all residents of the area, who will be given the opportunity to apply for any career. The Rustenburg Local Municipality has been working closely with the local and affected taxi industry, who are supportive and have become a part of the transformative agenda of the RRT project. Some of the key milestones achieved with the local taxi industry include the establishment of the Taxi Negotiating Forum, the conclusion of a Memorandum of Agreement, and the establishment of the BOC which affected taxi operators will transition into. The municipality plans to roll out 10 buses for Phase 1A of the system before the end of 2020 with a further 30 buses planned in the following 24 months. In total, 45 buses and 150 taxis will form the first phase of the system. The municipality is further undertaking construction of 18 stations on two trunk roads and in the central business district (CBD). Once complete, the Yarona Bus service is envisaged to do up to 100 000 passenger trips daily on two corridors, with 18 stations, 450 bus stops, one depot and one operations control centre to manage the services. ■ NORTH WEST BUSINESS 2020/21 12

FOCUS A world-class public transport network Frequently asked questions answered. What is the IRPTN? Integrated Rapid Public Transport Network refers to the integration of the various modes of transport which seeks to provide a safer, reliable, accessible, affordable, transport system that gives priority to public over private transport. The plan is to provide integration of public transport with the emphasis being on the delivery of a Rapid Transit (RT) system. This includes the integration of the system with other services, including local and long-distance bus services, feeder vehicles, taxis, pedestrian passageways, bicycles and private cars. owners of private vehicles and in doing so, ease congestion, reduce the impact on the environment and support the development of a sustainable city; to achieve this objective by placing 85% of the municipality’s population within 500m of an IRPTN road, or feeder corridor; to improve and integrate the municipality’s urban transport system and attract more investment and tourism and ultimately stimulate the economy and job creation. Which areas will be covered? • Phase 1A: North-western areas of the CBD including Tlhabane, Tlhabane West, Rustenburg North and Geelhout Park. • Phase 1B: Meriting, Freedom Park, Sunrise Park, Ramochana and Boitekong Extensions 4 and 7. • Phase 1C: Protea Park, Cashan and part of Rustenburg CBD. • Phase 2: Kanana. This will have six feeder routes. What is RRT? Rustenburg Rapid Transit is the municipality’s IRPTN project management office responsible for planning, managing and implementing services for a high-quality public transport system that runs on an exclusive dedicated lane with coordinated and prioritised signalling. The people of Rustenburg, the municipality and the RRT department have named the bus service Yarona Bus. Why is the Yarona Bus being introduced in Rustenburg? To transform existing public transport conditions by providing a high-quality, cost-effective, car-competitive public transport system that will serve the mobility needs of all segments of the municipality’s population, even current What kind of jobs will be created? General labourers, drivers and operators, artisans and technical skilled persons, supervisors, managers, cleaners, security, cashiers, retailers, mechanics, etc. Will people living with disabilities be able to commute on the Yarona system? The Yarona system is designed to accommodate people with special needs. Buses will be designed to ensure easy boarding and descending for people with special needs. ■

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