How the GO GEORGE service uplifted communities in George

The journey towards the George Integrated Public Transport Network (GIPTN) began in 2005, following the redevelopment of the George Thembalethu taxi terminus and upgrading the Sandkraal Road between the N2 and Industrial Road. One of the key outcomes of the study was a recommendation to develop George’s public transport system, as the existing services were failing residents.

Routes were limited, services unsafe and unreliable, infrastructure inadequate, and taxi drivers faced precarious working conditions. These findings laid the groundwork for the George Mobility Strategy which envisioned to provide a safe, affordable, accessible, reliable, dignified and convenient, scheduled public transport system.

GO GEORGE was launched in December 2014 with an ‘infrastructure light’ approach. This approach was adopted due to uncertainties relating to passenger demand and take-up, and thus the risk of investing in infrastructure that might be unused should the operation not materialise. 

Phase by phase, the system grew, connecting more suburbs, and expanding on the initial infrastructure, with the most recent addition in October 2024 extending services between Thembalethu and the George industrial area. Today, the network has 33 routes, 565 universally accessible stops, and 40 transfer locations that act as vital nodes, linking routes, and enhancing passenger comfort, safety, and wayfinding.

Since its introduction, the GO GEORGE service has had a significant socio-economic impact on people in George. In terms of improved accessibility and mobility, it operates 16 hours a day, seven days a week, linking previously underserved communities to healthcare, recreation, education, government services, and employment opportunities, with 70% of passengers using the service to travel to work.

By offering subsidised fares, the system significantly improves mobility for low-income households, making transport more affordable for the poorest of the poor, with 89% of passengers paying less for transport than they did before its introduction. GO GEORGE also provides enhanced accessibility for passengers with special needs, such as pregnant women, the elderly and children, and passengers with disabilities through universal design features, such as wheelchair ramps and level boarding, ensuring that the service is inclusive and equitable.

Looking at economic opportunities, GO GEORGE has generated a wide range of employment opportunities, creating jobs for bus drivers, technical staff, call-centre agents, a vehicle operating company (VOC), construction firms, and local vendors. At the same time, it has contributed to the formalisation of the taxi industry by compensating or incorporating local minibus taxi operators into the system as VOC shareholders.

Through this process, 139 shareholders have been given the opportunity to participate in a formal business environment in a relatively low-risk manner, fostering economic empowerment and long-term stability within the local transport sector.

In terms of urban development and investment, the introduction of GO GEORGE has catalysed significant urban improvements, triggering upgrades to roads, sidewalks, transfer locations, and areas around bus stops, thereby enhancing both the safety and attractiveness of key corridors and neighbourhoods. The GIPTN network has also shaped spatial planning, informing land use intensification corridors in the MSDF 2023.

These interventions have contributed to rising property values and increased commercial activity along main routes, particularly within the CBD and other high-density areas, with most passengers recognising the system’s positive contribution to their neighbourhoods. Since its inception, GO GEORGE has attracted over R741 million in infrastructure investment, of which about R568 million originated from outside of George, with further allocations still to be spent, demonstrating the system’s ongoing role as a driver of economic development and urban renewal.

As for social inclusion and quality of life, GO GEORGE offers affordable fares with reliable travel times, enabling workers and learners to get to and from work and school on time. The system’s universal-access vehicles and infrastructure further enhance the passenger experience by increasing comfort, dignity, and safety, particularly for women and other vulnerable groups, ensuring that public transport in George is both inclusive and dependable. 

Environmental and health benefits include a more sustainable and efficient transport system by replacing part of the minibus taxi fleet with fewer, scheduled buses, thereby reducing congestion and lowering emissions per passenger. The system represents a 53% saving in passenger car equivalent vehicles compared to the minibus taxi industry, resulting in significant lane capacity savings. 

Furthermore, the GO GEORGE fleet exceeds legislative minimum emission standards, operating 35 minibuses at Euro 4 level and 98 large buses at Euro 5 level, reinforcing its role in promoting cleaner, safer, and more efficient urban mobility.

The positive impact of GO GEORGE continues to unfold, with several routes in Phase 4A still underway and future phases (5, 6 and 7) planned. The evidence is clear that scheduled, safe, and reliable public transport is not a luxury but an essential investment in community upliftment, economic growth, and sustainable urban development.

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