GOOD Statement by Roxaan Vorster, GOOD George Municipality Councillor :
The GOOD Party calls on the DA-led George Municipality to urgently reinstate bus services or provide immediate alternative transport for hundreds of residents left stranded by the sudden suspension of the GO George service.
While we acknowledge the challenges posed by the current inclement weather, the decision to halt the town’s only primary mode of transport on a Monday morning, without a viable contingency plan, is both short-sighted and unfair.
The impact of this decision is severe:
- Stranded Workers: Many residents had already used their tickets to travel to work, only to find themselves abandoned by the municipality when it came time to return home.
- Safety Risks: It is a gross contradiction to suspend bus services citing “weather safety” while effectively forcing the most vulnerable members of our community to walk long distances in those very same hazardous conditions.
- Economic Injustice: Commuters who have invested their limited income into travel tickets are now being denied the service they have already paid for, with no word on refunds or credits.
A responsible municipality must ensure that urban resilience includes a “Plan B.” Safety and service delivery should not be mutually exclusive. If the buses cannot run, the municipality has a duty to coordinate with other transport providers or deploy emergency shuttles to ensure no citizen is forced to trek home on foot in a storm.
Many taxi operators no longer service these routes because GO George dominates the system, leaving residents with little or no alternatives during emergencies.
A public transport system cannot leave learners and working people abandoned in the middle of the day with no plan to get them home safely.
The DA-led municipality must stop hiding behind weather reports and start prioritising the dignity and safety of George’s workforce. We demand the immediate reinstatement of services on key routes or the provision of alternative transport for those currently left without a way home.
GOOD Social Cohesion: GOOD promotes social cohesion and unity among diverse communities.
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Fun South African Fact: The Bloukrans Bridge, Western Cape, is the highest commercial natural bungee jump in the world.
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