Mobility
Thank you, Member Mbombo, for raising this important question.
It gives us the opportunity to highlight the significance of one of our province’s flagship initiative, the Go George Bus Service.
Go George stands as one of South Africa’s most successful public transport programmes and proudly remains the only non-metro Integrated Transport Network in the country.
At a time when our nation faces many challenges, Go George shines as a true beacon of hope, delivering safe, reliable, and inclusive mobility that transforms lives and communities
(a) Current Progress of GO GEORGE
(i) Operational performance
- GO GEORGE recently celebrated its 11-year anniversary (launched in December 2014).
- As of 2024/25, the service operates a fleet of 133 buses (mini, midi and standard).
- The network comprises 33 routes, covering approximately 166 kilometres (kms).
- On an average weekday, the service carries over 20 000 passengers, with the service having peaked at over 21 500 weekday passenger trips following the roll-out of the Phase 4A route from Thembalethu to the George Industrial Area.
- During a recent customer satisfaction survey concluded in April 2025, respondents indicated a 91% overall satisfaction over the service as well as 97% on reliability.
- The service remains committed to universal access - all buses (mini, midi, standard) are equipped with ramps or hydraulic hoists, and supportive infrastructure (e.g., tactile paving at stops, audio/visual information, priority seating) to accommodate persons with disabilities, older persons, and those with special needs.
Overall, GO GEORGE now functions as a full-fledged, integrated public transport service, widely used, reliable, accessible, and delivering substantial daily mobility for the George community.
(ii) Plans / Timelines for Further Expansion
- The most recent expansion involved roll-out of a second route to Thembalethu, launched on 28 October 2024, connecting Thembalethu to the George Industrial area.
- The broader expansion plan envisages additional feeder or main-line routes serving outlying areas of George — including, but not limited to, Uniondale, Herold’s Bay, Wilderness, and the George Airport.
- According to our current projects, the expansion to these outlying areas is planned over the next five years (i.e. 2025–2030), following the full integration of the Thembalethu route expansion.
- Supporting infrastructure upgrades are already underway, grants of R755 million have been awarded (by the relevant national funding programme) to upgrade roads and general infrastructure used by GO GEORGE. These upgrades commenced July 2024, with some projects completed and others scheduled to finish as late as 2026.
- The long-term vision (as the service enters its second decade) remains to deepen integration, extend coverage, embrace technological improvements, and further embed sustainability and accessibility principles in the GO GEORGE system.
(b) Key Milestones Achieved to Date
Here are the key milestones that can be highlighted:
Milestone | Details / Significance |
Launch of GO GEORGE (Dec 2014) | First formal scheduled bus service for the town, with an initial fleet (12 buses) and 3 routes. |
Growth to full Integrated Public Transport Network (IPTN) | Over time GO GEORGE grew into the first non-metro IPTN in South Africa providing a structured, scheduled, safe, subsidised public transport option. |
Fleet expansion and route network growth | From 12 buses / 3 routes in 2014 to 133 buses / 33 routes covering 166 km road network. |
Ridership growth and regular weekday load | Average weekday ridership now over 20 000 post Phase 4A partial rollout with peaks of 21500. |
Universal accessibility & inclusivity | All buses and many stops designed / retrofitted to accommodate persons with disabilities and special needs (ramps/hoists, tactile paving, priority seats, visual/audio aids, etc.). |
Infrastructure upgrades — roads, stops, shelters, transfer hubs | Since 2024, major road rehabilitation and infrastructure grant (R755 million) awarded; some upgrades complete, others ongoing to 2026. |
Recent expansion to Thembalethu (Phase 4A / new routes) | Launch of second Thembalethu route in October 2024 linking Thembalethu to George Industrial Area, improving access for that community. |
Sustained passenger satisfaction and community reliance | Over 90 % satisfaction; GO GEORGE now an essential daily mobility service for thousands of residents. |
Additional Observations
Honourable Speaker, our achievements are not only captured through operational data, but through the lived experiences of people on the ground.
For example, Mrs Mamu Nomakule, a GO GEORGE top-up vendor from Thembalethu, who also operates from the Garden Route Mall, shared with me how she moved from unemployment to being able to support her family because of this programme. She is now approaching her third year as a vendor.
Ms Ruth Faku, a commuter living with a disability, explained how GO GEORGE’s accessible design has made her daily commute to work much easier and restored her independence.
Lastly, a matric learner from George High, Nemesia Paulse, uses the bus service to travel safely to school and to her extramural activities. Because there’s a free one-hour transfer, she does not need to pay twice when changing busses.
The system has matured into a stable, reliable, and widely used public transport service for the greater George municipality.
GO GEORGE continues to deliver on its mandate of providing safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable public transport and remains a central pillar of our mobility strategy for George and the broader Garden Route region.
