GEORGE NEWS - The Western Cape Government has allocated R32m towards the further expansion of the Go George bus service. This was announced by the Western Cape Minister of Mobility, Isaac Sileku, during the official opening of the new Megalink bus maintenance facility on Sunday 8 December.
Go George also celebrated its 10th anniversary on Sunday.
This significant milestone was made even more special with the opening of Megalink and the announcement of the financial investment from the government.
Sileku said the investment is done through their budget adjustments to address critical priorities such as the continued expansion of the Go George bus service to the community of Thembalethu, the continued roll-out of the remaining routes to the Garden Route Mall and CBD, to support the continued operations of Go George and to ensure that most households in George are within 500m of a bus stop. '
Since safety is a high priority on public transport, 150 CCTV cameras will also be equipped with UPS devices to ensure continuous monitoring. Following the completion of the Go George Thembalethu roll-out, they are looking at routes to Wilderness, the airport and Herold's Bay.
Megalink launch
The new maintenance premises, acquired by George Link (the vehicle operating company for Go George) and leased to Megalink (a joint venture with George Link as partner), currently employ 14 local staff members, including a workshop manager, administrative staff, qualified mechanics, and seven mechanic apprentices.
The apprentices, sourced from the historically affected people's register linked to agreements with the taxi industry, are set to achieve their Red Seal certification in July 2025.
The facility, which has been fully operational since 1 September, boasts a state-of-the-art vehicle maintenance workshop. This initiative follows Megalink's success in securing the municipal tender in June 2021 to maintain the Go George bus fleet, a service initially operated from a rental site before it relocated to the new premises.
Riaan Lodewyks (right) shows Western Cape Minister of Mobility Isaac Sileku the underbelly of a jacked-up Go George bus.
Sileku said the opening of the maintenance facility is a significant step forward for George Link. He foresees benefits such as improved reliability of the buses and enhanced operational efficiency, reduced downtime and improved response times.
"This facility is not just a building, it's a symbol of our dedication to quality, efficiency, and sustainability," he said.
George Speaker Sean Snyman, who attended the event on behalf of Mayor Jackie von Brandis, reiterated the municipality's support to Megalink and Go George. "On behalf of the entire council, you have the support of George Municipality," he said while addressing attendees.
"I think a lot of people thought that Go George would not work, but guess what? Not only is it working, but it is growing. The dream that we have for the system is to give Cape Town a hiding when it comes to public transport.
"For me, one of the highlights of Go George is that people like myself, who live with disabilities, can get on the bus and go anywhere in town, even in a wheelchair," said Snyman.
Commenting on the facility itself, its cleanliness, and the work ethic of workshop manager Riaan Lodewyks and his team, Snyman said they put most dealerships to shame.
"You are creating opportunities for people and putting George on the map. I don't think there is any other secondary city that offers so much for the citizens in terms of public transport. I'm looking forward to the roll-out to places like Uniondale and Wilderness, and who knows, maybe even intertown. Imagine you can tell someone they can catch a bus safely to Mossel Bay or Knysna."
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