Limpopo Business 2017-18 edition

PROFILE
Leeto: Our journey to
seamless mobility
Building a better city.
By Musa Ndlangamandla
Seamless, smart and sustainable urban mobility that
ensures the quick and free movement of people,
goods and services while reducing pollution, traffic
and accidents. This has become a major priority for
the future growth of cities around the world.
For the City of Polokwane, an efficient and costeffective
public transport system which connects
people to jobs, education, recreational facilities
and public services is a fundamental part of human
development. That is why Polokwane Local
Municipality has pulled out all the stops and is
making great progress in the implementation of
the ground-breaking Leeto la Polokwane project,
which will provide its citizens with a safer, faster,
affordable, efficient and environmentally friendly
public transport service. The name, which means
the Journey of Polokwane, derives from the SePedi
language and is symbolic of the collective journey
of the people of Polokwane.
Leeto la Polokwane is making a positive impact on
the city’s socio-economic development, through
upgrades in public physical infrastructure within a
well-planned spatial context. The project has also
ensured sustainable job creation while ushering in
a clean, green, safe and healthy city. Such improvements
have a positive impact in promoting local
businesses and stimulating investments.
Historical Background
A brief historical background would help unpack
the milestones of this project which have been
realised over the last five years and give context
Polokwane Municipality Executive, Mayor Cllr Thembi
Nkadimeng on the occassion of Leeto la Polokwane
system name launch.
to Polokwane Local Municipality’s efforts towards
creating a city where people and community come
first. Polokwane is among 13 cities identified by
government to introduce an Integrated Rapid Public
Transport System (IRPTS). This is aligned with the
objectives of the National Transport Action Plan,
incorporating South Africa’s Public Transport
Strategy, which was approved by Cabinet in 2007.
Leeto la Polokwane is funded in tranches through
the Public Transport Network Grant (PTNG) and integrates
Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) with non-motorised
transport, progressive land use approaches, and
car-restriction interventions. It is implemented in
phases and operates on fully or partly dedicated
roads and feeder routes that connect with existing
networks of minibus taxis, buses, walkways and cycling
lanes. Over the past 10 years, National Treasury
has contributed R167-billion towards infrastructure
and operations subsidies, with an average annual
LIMPOPO BUSINESS 2017/18
66