Thohoyandou - A sod-turning ceremony will take place for the construction of a R350 million bus and taxi terminal in Thohoyandou, Limpopo, on Thursday.
Provincial Roads and Transport MEC Pinky Kekana and Thulamela municipal mayor Thivhulawi Makumbane will introduce the Thohoyandou Public Transport Intermodal Facility at the Thohoyandou town hall.
"The construction of this major bus and taxi pilot project is the first of its kind in Limpopo and the Thulamela municipality will serve as a benchmark that other municipalities across the province can learn from," said Makumbane's spokesman Nndwamato Tshiila on Tuesday.
Tshiila said once the facility is completed, other municipalities in Limpopo would follow suit.
He said Kekana's department was funding the project, which is expected to create jobs for local community members during the construction phase.
"We are happy that this major transport project will create jobs for our poor and unemployed people during construction through a local labour intensive project," said Tshiila.
Tshiila said the bus and taxi rank facility would be two to three stories high while hawkers would operate from upmarket stalls.
"Moreover, the bus and taxi ranks will also cater for disabled people, who won't be forced to use steps but (will have wheelchair access)," he said.
Member of the Vhembe District Disabled Forum Gilbert Mudobi praised the municipality's efforts to cater for the disabled.
"We as disabled people used to suffer in the past as we needed people to push us around the bus or taxi rank, which were not user friendly. Now it will be easy for us to wheel ourselves through the facility," said Mudobi.
