SOCIO-POLITICAL FEASIBILITY

The Gautrain was also found to be socio-politically feasible.  It is considered as acceptable by most interested and affected parties and it also meets vital goals of the South African government.  Indicators are also positive that the applicable powers and institutional structures required are adequate.

Political will and support was initially demonstrated when the Gauteng Premier, Mbhazima Shilowa, in February 2000 announced that new a rapid rail system will be built as part of one of ten Spatial Development Initiatives of the Gauteng Provincial Government, and thereafter many times by politicians and government institutions on all the levels of government.  Besides addressing transport needs in the province, this project will also stimulate economic growth, development and employment creation.  In line with the aims of the National Land Transportation Act of 2000, Gautrain is a quantum leap towards the vision of a proper, effective and efficient public transport system which is acceptable even to tourists and non-captive users.

Although the acceptability of Gautrain by the people of Gauteng is difficult to measure accurately, indications are that approximately 20% of the relevant current private vehicle travellers could be attracted to use the Gautrain Rapid Rail Link.  This will favour the other vehicle travellers as lower road congestion levels will exist as a result of Gautrain. This highly visible project will benefit citizens from all three metropolitan municipalities in Gauteng, namely, Johannesburg, Pretoria and Ekurhuleni. Benefits to citizens will include job creation, poverty alleviation and a better public transport system. It seems that the project will be largely acceptable to most citizens in the Gauteng society, even though opposition is experienced from some living close to the proposed route.

According to legal and institutional feasibility, the GPG does have all the necessary powers and that the proposed institutional structures will be able to manage and control the project successfully.  Thus, from a legislative and institutional perspective, the Gautrain project can be considered feasible.