Reconsider the problem-laden IPTS scheme

THE Herald front-page article, "Bus plan bleeding money" (November 19), refers.

The article states: "Seven years and more than R1-billion later". This needs to be corrected as since its inception in 2005 we have spent R2.129-billion, which includes an over-expenditure of R147-million.

This grandiose plan has been plagued by a plethora of self-inflicted problems. These challenges, inter alia, include but are not limited to:

• A lack of in-house capacity to manage the project;
• Poor planning, resulting in underspending and roll-over of funds;
• Introducing a foreign and inappropriate road design and buses;
• The taxi industry hijacking and dictating matters;
• Stoppages by disgruntled SMMEs;
• Contracts for the politically connected;
• Poor marketing and lack of public buy-in;
• Politicising a project that is meant to benefit all.

It is therefore no wonder that the IPTS has come to a grinding halt and all and sundry are denying fathership.

The DA unequivocally supports any effort to secure a reliable, safe and affordable public transport system. However, we are disgusted by the gross abuse of the public purse to finance the frenzy at the feeding trough.

The IPTS in our metro deserves a thorough rethink.

Jonathan Lawack, PR councillor and DA spokesman: infrastructure and engineering, NMMM