Since launching its first four routes to Rosemoor, Denneoord, Loerie Park and the Garden Route Mall on 8 December 2014 with just 12 buses, GO GEORGE has grown into a well-established public transport provider in George. Eleven years on, the service now operates 133 buses across 33 routes spanning 166 km, transporting an average of 20 185 passengers every weekday. More than six million passengers were conveyed over the past 12 months.
Celebrating Mobility Month in October, GO GEORGE Manager, Morné Lakay, expressed his gratitude for the progress and growth of the past year. “Nothing gives us greater pleasure than seeing the community benefitting from our services, increasingly using this convenient and affordable way of travelling to work, school and wherever they need to go,” he said.
Infrastructure upgrades lead the way
Lakay highlighted the extensive infrastructure upgrades as the year’s crowning achievement. Funded by the National Department of Transport’s Public Transport Network Grant, these improvements are reshaping the city’s transport landscape.
“We’re deeply grateful for Government’s financial support,” he said. “We do understand the frustration caused by ongoing roadworks all over town, but we’re confident that the long-term benefits will far outweigh the temporary inconvenience. As a matter of fact, 587 job opportunities have been created through the construction projects to date.”
Once completed, the upgrades will include:
• 19 km of improved roads
• 39 km of safe, pedestrian-friendly sidewalks
• 55 new bus shelters
• 85 accessible bus stops
Smart technology for smarter travel
To enhance the passenger experience, GO GEORGE is also gradually introducing new digital tools such as a chatbot, a GO GEORGE App, and digital information screens at key locations. QR codes for service information are already in use.
“We’re excited to introduce these user-friendly features and to hear what our passengers think,” said Lakay. “Our team is working hard to ensure these tools are intuitive and helpful, and our communications and passenger support staff are already upskilling passengers to use them with confidence.”
Western Cape Minister for Mobility, Isaac Sileku, commended the service’s impact: “Public transport is more than a service, it’s a lifeline. GO GEORGE continues to demonstrate how inclusive, reliable mobility can uplift communities, connect opportunity, and restore dignity to daily travel. We thank all role-players for their innovation, resilience, and unwavering commitment to the people of George. Their collective efforts has made it possible to launch the second route to Thembalethu at the end of last year. The new route certainly contributed to the 8% increase in learner uptake of the service this year. This is what progress in motion looks like.”
Community feedback matters
The eighth annual passenger satisfaction survey is also underway during Mobility Month, conducted jointly by the Western Cape Mobility Department and the George Municipality. The survey aims to measure the socio-economic impact of the GO GEORGE service and compare results with previous years for planning and benchmarking.
Residents are encouraged to participate when approached. “It takes just 15 minutes,” said Lakay, “but the insights we gain are invaluable, and only possible through the voices of those who use or are affected by the service.”
Photos:
The Jonga terminus in Thembalethu has been upgraded with additional shelters, and the sidewalks have been widened at all four corners of the intersection to enhance pedestrian safety.
Transfer stations are critical support infrastructure for improving route connectivity and enabling commuters to transfer safely and efficiently between routes. This precinct in Beach Road, Pacaltsdorp, now offers more bus stops and shelters, attractive wide median islands, a cycle lane, and paved walkways.
