News 2019
GAUTRAIN ACCOMMODATES SPRINGBOK FLIGHT DELAYS
05 November 2019
Go welcome our world rugby champions home and use Gautrain free of charge when wearing a Springbok shirt.
On Tuesday 5 November 2019, from 13:30 to 15:30 and 18:00 to 21:04, all Springbok supporters in a Springbok shirt and without luggage, may travel free of charge on the Gautrain train service, to and from OR Tambo International Airport from any Gautrain Station (T&C applies).
Please note – due to flight delays, the time arrangement for supporters retuning from OR Tambo International Airport has been extended to 21:04. At this time, the last Gautrain departs from the airport and should a supporter miss this train, alternate arrangements would have to be made to get to the station where car is parked in time for station closure.
Jack van der Merwe, CEO Gautrain Management Agency, said “after the amazing Rugby World Cup victory by the Springboks, the Gautrain has decided to celebrate this glorious achievement by offering free travel to all Springbok supporters who will be welcoming the team back from Japan at OR Tambo International Airport on Tuesday, heeding President Cyril Ramaphosa’s call to go and welcome them home.”
“Thank you to Rassie, Siya and the rest of the boys for making us proud and putting South Africa again firmly on the international rugby map,” van der Merwe concluded.
To travel for free, the following terms and conditions apply:
- A supporter must wear a Springbok shirt (green or white);
- Drop-offs at a station are recommended;
- Going to the airport, supporters can only enter a Gautrain Station for free between 13:30 and 15:30;
- Returning from the airport, supporters can only enter the Gautrain System for free between 18:00 and 21:04;
- Free parking is available only at Centurion, Midrand, Marlboro and Sandton Stations on a first come first serve basis;
- No free parking available at Park, Rosebank, Pretoria, Hatfield and Rhodesfield Stations;
- When entering a parkade, take a paper ticket and keep it safe until return; (Please do not use your Gautrain Gold or Swift cards to enter the parking as you will then be charged non-rail user rates for the parking);
- It is recommended that you use the drop-off zone to enter the parking area;
- Returning to the station after the event, the eligible supporter must present the paper ticket at the ticket office in order to receive a free exit from the parkade;
- Persons who are flying in and out of OR Tambo (with or without luggage) in a Springbok shirt will have to pay the applicable airport fare;
- Returning from the airport, a person wearing a Springbok shirt with luggage will be eligible for free travel only if s/he can present a boarding pass from Japan;
- A supporter will adhere to crowd control measures at any station in the event of a too high demand for the train service;
- Eligible supporters can board both the dedicated Gautrain airport coaches as well as the general passenger coaches. All train doors will be opened at OR Tambo International Airport Station;
- Free travel is only allowed if there is adequate rail service and parking capacity available;
- No free travel on Gautrain buses.
End
__________________________________________________________________________________
Issued by: Gautrain Management Agency and the Bombela Concession Company
Contact: Barbara Jensen
GMA Senior Executive Manager: Communication and Marketing
GMA:
barbaraj@gautrain.co.za
and
Kesagee Nayager,
Communication and Marketing Executive, Bombela Concession Company:
kesagee.Nayager@Bombela.com
Follow us on: Twitter - @TheGautrain
Facebook – www.facebook.com/gautrainn
Website – www.gautrain.co.za
Call Centre – 0800 42887246
SMS alert line – 32693
__________________________________________________________________________________
GAUTRAIN’S RESPONSE TO THE CITY OF JOHANNESBURG’S MEDIA STATEMENT
20 SEPT 2019
Yesterday, 19 September 2019, the City of Johannesburg released a media statement condemning what appears to be an irregular sale of the land on which the Sandton Gautrain Station is situated to Cedar Park Properties 39 (Pty) Ltd (Cedar Park). Whilst we support the City of Johannesburg (the City) in its efforts to deal decisively with any acts of criminality within the City we wish to clarify the following which the City failed to disclose in its statement.
Up to 2006 the property on which the Sandton Gautrain Station is situated was owned by City of Johannesburg. In June 2006 a part of this property was acquired by the Gauteng Provincial Government as a public transport project and in terms of Section 11 of the Gauteng Transport Infrastructure Act of 2001 (the GTIA). The Gauteng Provincial Government proclaimed the necessary land rights to build and operate the Gautrain railway line over this property and paid the City R160 million for these rights. The Gauteng Provincial Government has these rights over the railway lines, platforms and the actual Gautrain station at Sandton.
In July 2009 the City decided to sell the remaining property (including what can be built on top of Gautrain Sandton Station) and it then entered into an agreement of sale with Cedar Park. The Sandton Gautrain station commenced operations in 2010 and forms part of the Gautrain project that is operated, maintained and partially financed by the Bombela Concession Company (RF) Pty Ltd (Bombela) in terms of a concession agreement with the Gauteng Provincial Government. Bombela therefore occupies the property pursuant to its rights in terms of the concession agreement and the GTIA, and not as a tenant of Cedar Park.
In spite of the water account for the Gautrain Sandton station being paid in full and up to date, the City has cut off the water supply to the station on 06 September 2019 due to what we understand as an amount of over R8 million that is allegedly owed by Cedar Park to the City.
Given that the water account for the station is paid in full and up to date, and with approximately 20 000 passengers utilising the Sandton station on a daily basis, and given the health and hygiene concerns we have raised, we have been calling on the City to reconnect the water supply to the station. These calls have gone unheeded leaving us with no other option but to seek relief through the courts in the interest of the Gautrain passengers who are now being, at the very least, inconvenienced because of a legal dispute between the City and Cedar Park, and what now appears to be an allegedly suspicious sale agreement entered into between the City and Cedar Park.
We want to make it very clear that the litigation by Bombela and the Gauteng Provincial Government is not related to the litigation by Cedar Park and we therefore do not agree with the City’s allegation that there is a duplication of litigation and furthermore the wasting of public funds. Whilst we have no objection to the City attempting to recoup any unpaid rates, taxes or water accounts by any corporate property owner, we cannot let innocent Gautrain passengers be inconvenienced because of a legal battle the City might have with such a property owner.
Cutting off water to an innocent service paying third party like Gautrain is not a way to solve legal matters and does not do the image of Johannesburg as a world class African city any good. For most international travellers Gautrain Sandton Station is their first introduction of Johannesburg – now they get to do with a facility that has no water.
End
__________________________________________________________________________________
Issued by: Jointly issued by Gautrain Management Agency and Bombela Concession Company
Contact: Dr Barbara Jensen, Senior Executive Manager: Communication and Marketing, GMA
barbaraj@gautrain.co.za and
Mrs Kesagee Nayager Marketing and Communications Executive, BCC
kesagee.Nayager@Bombela.com
Follow us on: Twitter - @TheGautrain
Facebook – www.facebook.com/gautrainn
Website – www.gautrain.co.za
Call Centre – 0800 42887246
SMS alert line for service disruptions - 32693
__________________________________________________________________________________
Minister Fikile Mbalula visits Gautrain
25 October 2019
National Minister of Transport, Minister Fikile Mbalula, today paid a visit to the Gautrain as part of the City of Tshwane’s Celebration of White Cane Day. It was his first ever ride on the Gautrain. This was part of an extended trip to use different modes of public transport.
Gauteng MEC of Public Transport and Road MEC Jacob Mamabolo welcomed the fact that Minister Mamabolo visited the Gautrain and that he experienced the world class service of the system first hand. Minister Mbalula said that our government has investment in infrastructure and we must make sure that it is accessible, affordable and efficient.
“With Gautrain’s 98.5% punctuality and 99.75% availability rates Minister Mbalula, we are ready to integrate with the rest of the public transport systems in the Gauteng Province” said MEC Mamabolo. “Already we are integrating with the Bus Rapid Transport systems in the City of Tshwane and the City of Johannesburg as well as with Metrorail at various of the Gautrain stations.”
“I am also glad that the Minister could experience the Gautrain’s accessibility to people living with disabilities” continued MEC Mamabolo.
End
__________________________________________________________________________________
Issued by: Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport: Mr. Jacob Mamabolo
Contact: Barbara Jensen
GMA Senior Executive Manager: Communication and Marketing
barbaraj@gautrain.co.za
Follow us on: Twitter - @TheGautrain
Facebook – www.facebook.com/gautrainn
Website – www.gautrain.co.za
__________________________________________________________________________________
GAUTRAIN’S RESPONSE TO THE CITY OF JOHANNESBURG’S MEDIA STATEMENT
20 SEPT 2019
Yesterday, 19 September 2019, the City of Johannesburg released a media statement condemning what appears to be an irregular sale of the land on which the Sandton Gautrain Station is situated to Cedar Park Properties 39 (Pty) Ltd (Cedar Park). Whilst we support the City of Johannesburg (the City) in its efforts to deal decisively with any acts of criminality within the City we wish to clarify the following which the City failed to disclose in its statement.
Up to 2006 the property on which the Sandton Gautrain Station is situated was owned by City of Johannesburg. In June 2006 a part of this property was acquired by the Gauteng Provincial Government as a public transport project and in terms of Section 11 of the Gauteng Transport Infrastructure Act of 2001 (the GTIA). The Gauteng Provincial Government proclaimed the necessary land rights to build and operate the Gautrain railway line over this property and paid the City R160 million for these rights. The Gauteng Provincial Government has these rights over the railway lines, platforms and the actual Gautrain station at Sandton.
In July 2009 the City decided to sell the remaining property (including what can be built on top of Gautrain Sandton Station) and it then entered into an agreement of sale with Cedar Park. The Sandton Gautrain station commenced operations in 2010 and forms part of the Gautrain project that is operated, maintained and partially financed by the Bombela Concession Company (RF) Pty Ltd (Bombela) in terms of a concession agreement with the Gauteng Provincial Government. Bombela therefore occupies the property pursuant to its rights in terms of the concession agreement and the GTIA, and not as a tenant of Cedar Park.
In spite of the water account for the Gautrain Sandton station being paid in full and up to date, the City has cut off the water supply to the station on 06 September 2019 due to what we understand as an amount of over R8 million that is allegedly owed by Cedar Park to the City.
Given that the water account for the station is paid in full and up to date, and with approximately 20 000 passengers utilising the Sandton station on a daily basis, and given the health and hygiene concerns we have raised, we have been calling on the City to reconnect the water supply to the station. These calls have gone unheeded leaving us with no other option but to seek relief through the courts in the interest of the Gautrain passengers who are now being, at the very least, inconvenienced because of a legal dispute between the City and Cedar Park, and what now appears to be an allegedly suspicious sale agreement entered into between the City and Cedar Park.
We want to make it very clear that the litigation by Bombela and the Gauteng Provincial Government is not related to the litigation by Cedar Park and we therefore do not agree with the City’s allegation that there is a duplication of litigation and furthermore the wasting of public funds. Whilst we have no objection to the City attempting to recoup any unpaid rates, taxes or water accounts by any corporate property owner, we cannot let innocent Gautrain passengers be inconvenienced because of a legal battle the City might have with such a property owner.
Cutting off water to an innocent service paying third party like Gautrain is not a way to solve legal matters and does not do the image of Johannesburg as a world class African city any good. For most international travellers Gautrain Sandton Station is their first introduction of Johannesburg – now they get to do with a facility that has no water.
End
__________________________________________________________________________________
Issued by: Jointly issued by Gautrain Management Agency and Bombela Concession Company
Contact: Dr Barbara Jensen, Senior Executive Manager: Communication and Marketing, GMA
barbaraj@gautrain.co.za and
Mrs Kesagee Nayager Marketing and Communications Executive, BCC
kesagee.Nayager@Bombela.com
Follow us on: Twitter - @TheGautrain
Facebook – www.facebook.com/gautrainn
Website – www.gautrain.co.za
Call Centre – 0800 42887246
SMS alert line for service disruptions - 32693
__________________________________________________________________________________
MEC MAMABOLO VISITS THE GAUTRAIN SANDTON STATION TO MONITOR THE WATER ISSUE
10 SEPT 2019
Gauteng MEC for Public Transport and Roads Infrastructure, Mr. Jacob Mamabolo, today visited the Gautrain Sandton Station to ensure that the Gautrain service remains safe and convenient for passengers following the water cuts at the Sandton station. This situation comes after City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality cut the water supply to the station. This is despite the fact that the Bombela Concession Company has ensured that the water account is up to date. The Bombela Operating Company has since installed temporary solutions for passengers while the situation is being resolved.
MEC Mamabolo has been reassured that the temporary solution is sufficient while the Gautrain Management Agency and its Concessionaire, Bombela, are working through its attorneys with City of Johannesburg to ensure that the problem is permanently resolved.
End
__________________________________________________________________________________
Issued by: Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport: Mr. Jacob Mamabolo
Contact: Barbara Jensen
GMA Senior Executive Manager: Communication and Marketing -
barbaraj@gautrain.co.za
and
Contact: Theo Nkonki
Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport, MEC Spokesperson -
theo.nkonki@gauteng.gov.za
Follow us on: Twitter - @TheGautrain
Facebook – www.facebook.com/gautrainn
Website – www.gautrain.co.za
Call Centre – 0800 42887246
SMS alert line for service disruptions - 32693
__________________________________________________________________________________
MEC MAMABOLO HIGHLIGHTS GAUTRAIN’S DELIVERY TO THE SOCIO ECONOMIC DEVELEOPMENT OBJECTIVES OF THE GAUTENG PROVINCE
15 JULY 2019
Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport, Mr. Jacob Mamabolo, today highlighted the updated impact of the Gautrain Project to Gauteng’s economy. The MEC’s highlights were from a recent detailed assessment of the impact of the Gautrain Project which was conducted by Hatch – an independent consulting engineering and business entity. The results have shown that the Gautrain has achieved its objectives of contributing to the growing of the Gauteng economy.
MEC Mamabolo emphasised that the Gautrain Project was designed to support the priorities of the Gauteng Provincial Government which are, amongst others, accelerated economic growth, development and infrastructure delivery, with emphasis on:
- job creation;
- quality service delivery;
- good governance;
- SMME development;
- investment in black economic empowerment;
- convergence of Public-Private Partnerships; and
- promotion of tourism.
A study that was conducted in 2015 indicated that for every R1 spent on Gautrain, R1.72 had been added to the Gauteng economy. In the findings of the recent Hatch impact study, the Gautrain has continued to deliver jobs and investment in Gauteng. For every R10 million spent on construction work, 45 jobs were supported directly via supply chain and wage spend.
The following jobs were created by the project during construction:
- Approximately 3,800 direct jobs were created during construction phase for women and 3,000 during operation
- 20,300 direct jobs for youth during construction and 5,800 direct jobs during operations
- Approximately 29,900 direct jobs were created during construction for historically disadvantaged individuals (HDI)and 10,100 jobs for HDI’s during operations
The Gautrain has had significant community development programme support with R37.5 million having been committed to community organisations for 2017/2021 financial years.
MEC Mamabolo pointed out that “The Gautrain has also transformed commuting behavior. Just over 98m trips have been taken during Gautrain’s lifetime and this has resulted in a R78 contribution to the economy per trip. This benefit includes a R5 reduction in fatal accidents, R4 saving in CO 2 emissions and an average of 22 minutes which saves R69.”
The Project has also reinforced development nodes. Fifty-nine percent off all office development activity in major Gauteng nodes is located around Gautrain Stations. This is proof that the Project is attracting investment and integrated the region and its communities. It has further changed the perceptions and attracting international investment. Over R44 billion of foreign direct investment into Gauteng was between 2013 and 2016 was due to the of Gautrain.
After seven years of operation and close to 97 million passenger trips, the Gauteng Government has demonstrated that the face of public transport can be radically changed. “A modern and efficient public transport system such as Gautrain has had a positive impact on the provincial economy, alleviated traffic congestion and rejuvenated inner cities such as Johannesburg and Tshwane. It has created jobs and helped to re-establish the rail sector in our Province, Mamabolo emphasised.”
End
__________________________________________________________________________________
Issued by: Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport: Mr. Jacob Mamabolo
Contact: Barbara Jensen
GMA Senior Executive Manager: Communication and Marketing -
barbaraj@gautrain.co.za
and
Contact: Theo Nkonki
Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport, MEC Spokesperson -
theo.nkonki@gauteng.gov.za
Follow us on: Twitter - @TheGautrain
Facebook – www.facebook.com/gautrainn
Website – www.gautrain.co.za
Call Centre – 0800 42887246
SMS alert line for service disruptions - 32693