The bus and taxi industries have approved the R9 billion Go!Durban project and it will officially launch in December 2026.
The program is an Integrated Rapid Public Transport Network (IRPTN) initiative launched by the eThekwini Municipality. Its goal is to transform urban mobility throughout Durban by implementing a phased rollout of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and rail corridors. The project aims to bring buses, minibuses, and trains to Durban.
The mayor of eThekwini Cyril Xaba said that the City of Durban aims to build accessible stations and promote targeted socio-economic development.
“We are pleased that the overarching negotiation principles have now been addressed. This creates a clear pathway towards formalising industry participation and implementing the first Go! Durban services,” he added.
“The priority now is to translate the investment already made into a functioning public transport service, beginning with the C3 corridor.”
Additionally, Xaba said that the city has agreed to procure 22 buses, while public transport operators will purchase feeder vehicles through the Vehicle Operating Company (VOC).
The city of Durban will pay the VOC to operate the transport service, and 75% of the employees will be sourced from people displaced by the project. Opposition parties are sceptical of the familiar promises and are raising concerns about the R9 billion cost.
The new transportation initiative
The Go! Durban Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) program is managed by the eThekwini Transport Authority (ETA). Planning for the public transportation network began in February 2010 when the municipality appointed consultants.
The project was officially named “Go! Durban” in 2012, with detailed design work commencing that same year. Physical construction contracts were awarded starting in September 2013.
Originally, Phase 1 was targeted for completion and operational rollout around 2018. However, due to significant delays related to utility relocations, land expropriations, and prolonged negotiations over fleet ownership with local bus and taxi operators, these targets were repeatedly pushed back.
An intermediate target for early 2025 was set but later delayed. A major agreement was reached between the eThekwini Municipality and local transport operators.
As a result, testing and soft launching are now scheduled for October 2026, with the public operations on the initial C3 Corridor (from Pinetown to Bridge City) expected to begin in December 2026.
This project is partially funded through the national Public Transport Infrastructure System Grant (PTISG) and incorporates road, rail, and non-motorised transport options.
The long-term Integrated Rapid Public Transport Network (IRPTN) plan includes 250 kilometres of corridors, of which 60 kilometres are rail. The goal is to ensure that 85% of the municipality’s population is within an 800-meter walk of high-quality transit services.
The overall network comprises 8 BRT trunk routes and 1 Rail Rapid Transit (RRT) corridor.
