Minibus taxi and scheduled bus operators and drivers will be offered real benefits in the Integrated Rapid Transit (IRT) in Cape Town as shareholders, operators and employees in the new public transport system.

Current minibus-taxi and scheduled bus drivers and employees will get priority for employment in the new IRT system, and more jobs will be available, although they may not do the same job as they are doing now. The IRT vehicles will be larger and therefore fewer vehicles and drivers will be required. However, drivers will operate the vehicles in shifts, so one IRT vehicle will require more than one driver. Other than drivers, employment opportunities in the IRT system will include vehicle inspectors, landscaping, cleansing, ticketing, customer-service and security. Training for these new opportunities, that many not available in the current public transport system – or not to the same extent - will be provided. As the vehicles are larger than current minibus-taxis, IRT drivers will receive training on how to operate the IRT vehicles, as well as in road etiquette and customer service.

All employees in the new IRT system, will receive health and pension benefits, sick, maternity and annual leave as well as fixed working hours. The environment for drivers will be less stressful as they will be paid a fixed wage per shift, comparable to the current earnings, drivers are currently paid per passenger. This is because the IRT companies will be paid per kilometre the IRT vehicles travel according to a predetermined schedule, rather than per passenger as is currently the case.

Directly affected operators, those operators whose services will be upgraded by the IRT, will form companies that will be contracted by the City of Cape Town to operate the IRT system’s vehicles. The City will assist the operators to form these companies. Operators will be expected to give up their current operating rights in return for shares in the companies contracted to operate the new system, or they can chose to receive compensation and leave the industry.

The companies will get secure, long-term contracts extending over 10 – 12 years. In that time the companies will develop experience and expertise as IRT operators and will be well positioned to bid for the renewal of contracts.

The operators will own the vehicles and take responsibility for them, but the City will contribute a substantial portion of the cost of the vehicle as a form of subsidy to get the system started.

The operating companies will operate both the feeder and trunk routes of the new system. The trunk routes will operate 18m and 12 m vehicles, that can carry up to 120 passengers in their own dedicated lanes, while the feeder routes will be operated by 8.8m vehicles that can carry 50 passengers and will move with regular traffic.

Only the operating companies will be allowed to operate on the IRT routes.
There is a common misconception that taxi and bus operators will operate only the feeder, or smaller, routes in the new IRT system. This is incorrect. The minibus-taxi and bus operators will jointly own the companies contracted to run the entire system – the trunk and the feeder routes.
Engagement with the existing public transport industry is taking place at all three spheres of government. At local level the City of Cape Town is engaging directly affected mini-bus taxi and scheduled bus operators. These directly affected operators are those whose services will be replaced and upgraded by the IRT’s phase 1a. At Provincial level the industry is being informed about the IRT though representative bodies. At National sphere, engagement with the Industry is happening through the National Public Transport Working Group, chaired by the Minister of Transport.

The City of Cape Town’s IRT system, which will include a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system as well as non-motorised infrastructure, such as cycle lanes, pedestrian-friendly areas, and links to other transport modes, such as rail.

When complete the IRT will ensure safe, efficient, quality public transport around Cape Town to the benefit of all residents and tourists. The City proposes rolling the system out in phases over the next 10 to 15 years, starting with Phase 1A which has been approved, and is currently under construction.

This phase will include a trunk route along the R27 from the City to Blouberg and Atlantis; an inner city feeder service with links to Sea Point, Camps Bay and Hout Bay; and a service between the City and the Airport.

Due to the City proposing to roll the system out in phases the rest of the existing minibus-taxi and bus industry not in the Phase 1A area will still provide services in the rest of the city.

Once Phase 1A is completed, the City proposes rolling out three further phases. It is proposed that these phases will eventually cover most of Cape Town and surrounds.

The City believes that the IRT as an efficient, safe and reliable service will draw private car users onto public transport, and so grow the public transport market, resulting in increased employment.