CoCT says scaling back of Dial-a-Ride services due to budget constraints

CAPE TOWN - The City of Cape Town says scaling back Dial-a-Ride services is not by choice, but due to budget constraints the municipality is facing.

It was responding to calls from persons with disabilities across the metro for services not to be cut from next month.

Dial-a-Ride is a dedicated kerb-to-kerb service for people with disabilities who are unable to access mainstream public transport services.

But from 8 September, only wheelchair users and people with severe walking impairments will be able to use the service to go to work and back.

All other offerings will be cut, impacting most of the 2,000 disabled people who've relied on the service for years.

Mayco member for Mobility Rob Quintas said the city was, unfortunately, running at a loss operating the service at a cost of R40 million a year.

"We're very cognisant of the impact that it's having on people's lives. We are aware of this, and we feel it very acutely with the users. But the reality is that the level of service that was being provided is not sustainable with the budget that we have. So, I can only spend what I have, I cannot spend what I don't have."