Go!Durban Route Near Launch as City and Taxi Sector Hold Talks

Go! Durban Project Moves Forward After Prolonged Delays

The long-awaited Go! Durban project is finally on the verge of launching, with the first phase expected to begin this year. The eThekwini Municipality and the taxi industry have reached an agreement to resolve their differences, paving the way for the implementation of the initiative. This development marks a significant step forward after years of delays and disputes.

Mathula Mkhize, representing the Durban West Taxi Association under Santaco, confirmed that the city and the taxi operators are working together to address outstanding issues. According to Mkhize, the C3 route, which connects Pinetown and KwaMashu, is fully completed and has been the most affected by the previous impasse. This route is likely to be the first to go live.

Over the years, there have been multiple dates set for the launch of the project, but none have materialized. The delays have raised concerns among the city and government officials, who have claimed that millions of rand have been spent on securing the infrastructure against vandalism. The main point of contention has been the ownership of the buses. Taxi operators have insisted on having a controlling stake, arguing that they are losing business, while the city maintained control, citing its financial investment in the project.

“We are moving forward; the back-and-forth tensions that have been present are not going to be here anymore. The project is set to go live, and in our engagement with the municipality, we have told them that we are comfortable with the project going live this year,” Mkhize said. “There are still many outstanding issues, including the ownership of the buses and other important matters, but for the moment, I can state that we are engaging with the municipality. We have a table to engage, and we are moving forward.”

Mkhize added that some changes have been made, including reverting to the original plan and abandoning a new proposal that would have allowed non-participating operators to run on the route without joining the project. “That plan has now been abandoned, and we have told them that they have tried everything; it is time to implement this long-delayed project. We are in negotiation with them regarding compensation and other issues. The delays have also been due to uncertainty about whether they have the funding, so we are waiting for them to put forward the budget to facilitate the implementation of this project.”

Progress and Next Steps

Mandla Nsele, the Marketing and Communications Director of eThekwini Municipality, confirmed that engagements with public transport operators have been positive and have led to significant progress. He noted that while substantial strides have been made, discussions are ongoing to ensure all requirements for successful implementation are met.

“The remaining key processes include the conclusion of negotiated contracts with affected public transport operators, as well as the testing and commissioning of the system. These are essential steps that must be completed before the city can commence full-scale operations,” Nsele said.

He emphasized that the progress achieved is the result of ongoing engagement, constructive dialogue, and a shared commitment by all stakeholders to find practical solutions that support the transformation, empowerment, and formalisation of the minibus taxi and bus industries, while serving the best interests of commuters across eThekwini.

“The city has reverted to its conventional phased approach to implementing the Go! Durban Network, an approach that has been agreed upon by all key stakeholders. The city plans to commence operating the C3 service from December 2026, with services to be progressively expanded thereafter,” he added.

Mixed Reactions

DA councillor Lyndal Singh acknowledged the potential start of the Go! Durban project before the end of the year, following an agreement between the city and taxi operators. “While the DA welcomes any meaningful progress towards delivering an integrated public transport system, we remain cautious given the project's long history of delays.”

Despite the optimism, challenges remain, and the success of the project will depend on continued collaboration between the municipality and the taxi industry. With the C3 route poised to be the first to launch, the next few months will be critical in determining the future of Go! Durban.

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