Johannesburg - The Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport learnt valuable lessons when it piloted the Gauride project during the FIFA Confederations Cup in June.
"We were able to transport 20 000 spectators in 1 833 taxi and 45 bus trips. We are satisfied that this was a valuable experience from which lessons have been drawn," said Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport Bheki Nkosi.
He said they had observed how they could sharpen their efficiency in areas of co-ordination and integration between the department and host cities, timeous proclamation of operating permits and communication and marketing.
"We are now engaged in a process to make an assessment and prepare for the FIFA 2010 World Cup following the challenges around transport raised by FIFA and the 2010 FIFA Local Organising Committee," said Nkosi.
Minibus taxis and buses were branded with a GauRide logo and made available to transport soccer fans to stadia across Gauteng during the event.
In an effort to improve licensing and registration services to members of the public, the department recently entered into an agreement with the South African Post Office to carry out and administer responsibilities of vehicle registration and licencing within a regulated framework.
"The service is accessible in more than 70 post offices across the province," he said.
Two new Driver Learning Testing Centres were opened in Johannesburg and Sedibeng to help deal with the licence backlogs.
