The Automobile Association (AA) has criticised plans for the Gautrain’s R120 billion expansion, calling it a misguided move as passenger numbers continue to decline.
This comes after Gauteng MEC for Human Settlements and Infrastructure Development Lebogang Maile revealed that the Gautrain has lost five million passengers in the last four years.
The AA says this decline proves what it has been warning about for years: that the Gautrain is financially unsustainable and does not meet the needs of most commuters. Despite these concerns, the authorities are moving ahead with the massive expansion project.
“While the MEC claims this expansion will create 125 000 jobs, we must ask: at what cost?” the AA said. “Genuine, sustainable job creation should arise from investments that benefit the majority of South Africans – not from sinking billions into a faltering system that is losing its riders.”
The AA believes that the R120 billion earmarked for the Gautrain expansion would be better spent on improving transport infrastructure that serves the majority of South Africans. This includes fixing deteriorating roads, upgrading the taxi and bus network, and expanding more accessible public transport systems.
“From the outset, we have cautioned that this expansion is misguided,” it said. “With dwindling ridership and mounting operational costs, it is now abundantly clear: We warned you.”
The AA urges government officials to rethink their transport priorities, shifting focus to projects that will improve daily commuting for the broader population.
“It’s time to refocus our investments on solutions that genuinely matter – transport initiatives that uplift all South Africans, not just a privileged few,” it said.
“The AA calls on authorities to reassess their transport priorities and champion practical, inclusive solutions that benefit the many, rather than the elite minority.”
This is not the AA's first voiced opposition to the Gautrain expansion. In October 2024, it described the project as a “financial train wreck”.
This story first appeared in Moneyweb.
