Budget constraints led to Dial-a-Ride service reduction - CoCT

CAPE TOWN - The City of Cape Town said that budget constraints had led to the Dial-a-Ride service being reduced.

The announcement was made earlier in August.

Eligible users will from 8 September only be transported from their homes to their places of work and back.

Hospital visits, school drop-offs offs and social activities will not be permitted.

The City of Cape Town said the annual budget for the service was R28.2 million but it spends R40 million to keep the service operating in its current form.

The core mandate is to support those who have physical impairments in their commutes between work and home. 

But over the decades, it expanded it, to include trips to educational, medical and recreational facilities. 

The changes are likely to affect around 2,000 ad hoc users.

MMC for Urban Mobility Rob Quintas said that they had approached the social development department to fund the budget shortfall.

"Sadly, to this day, there has been no response from the department, thus I’m asking users, organisations and other stakeholders to please approach the department for additional funding for the service."

Meanwhile, the Western Cape Network on Disability is calling for more consultation with the city on the matter.