The Automobile Association has criticized the proposed Gautrain extension project as a waste of money.
Mr Jacob Mamabolo, the Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport, revealed intentions to expand the Gautrain’s routes to cover Randburg, Cosmo City, and other parts of the city.
According to the AA, the decision was made with a blatant disregard for factual evidence, demonstrating what a bad financial judgment this is.
The group is urging the idea to be rejected and the national government to put a stop to any further discussions about funding the expansion.
“In August last year we made a detailed submission outlining our concerns about the expansion of Gautrain. We noted then, as we do again now, that any expansion of Gautrain perpetuates a system which caters for a minority of citizens, all the while costing Gauteng taxpayers billions of Rands to prop up through the so-called Patronage Guarantee which compensates the system for low ridership levels,” the AA says.
When considering South Africa’s acute economic woes, the Association believes it is scandalous and highly unsettling that taxpayer money is effectively being used to compensate a private firm for non-performance.
It also points out that it undermines the government’s declared goal of budgetary discipline.
The AA branded the expansion a vanity project, claiming that taxpayers had been footing the price for the Gautrain’s ridership shortfall of about R13 billion since 2013.
“The fact remains that the Gautrain serves people who already have transport options – the large parking infrastructure at Gautrain stations attests to this.
This, along with a raft of other issues, is detailed in the submission we made last year. Sadly, we have received no feedback on our concerns, and it appears the MEC has disregarded the input of civil society on a matter which has huge financial implications for all citizens of the province.”