eThekwini Mayor Cyril Xaba has assured residents that the first phase of the city’s long-awaited integrated public transport system will commence in December.

Xaba gave an update on the progress of the Go!Durban transport project, which has cost nearly R10 billion over the past 16 years.

He says the city has agreed to procure 22 buses, while public transport operators will purchase feeder vehicles through the Vehicle Operating Company (VOC).

WATCH | After a 16-year delay, the eThekwini Municipality has announced that its integrated public transport system, the GO!Durban bus service, will begin operating in December. pic.twitter.com/g5wzzhw8GK

— SABC News (@SABCNews) September 6, 2026

Xaba says the city will pay the VOC to operate the transport service and 75% of the employees will be sourced from people displaced by the project.

“While the implementation of the programme has suffered delays, it has delivered tangible results in the form of infrastructure, systems and economic empowerment outcomes. The priority now is to translate the investment already made into a functioning public transport service, beginning with the C3 corridor,” says Xaba.

KwaZulu-Natal Transport MEC Siboniso Duma and eThekwini Mayor Cyril Xaba are expected to give an update on the long-awaited multi-billion-rand bus rapid transport system in Durban. https://t.co/KFDRgI1ilh pic.twitter.com/8mEmni1dh3

— SABC News (@SABCNews) September 6, 2026

VIDEO | Go!Durban bus service rolls out in December 2026

Meanwhile, the bus industry in eThekwini has welcomed the announcement to finally start the Go! Durban bus system in December after years of delays.

Speaking at the media briefing spokesperson Vickesh Maharaj says they support the city’s plans to start rolling out the buses in the route linking the city’s north region to Pinetown in the west, a route known as the C3 Corridor.

However, he says government still needs to clarify the issue of ownership transfer to affected public transport operators.

“I think one of the major issues that still need to be addressed whilst we take this path on the C3 corridor, I think with province and the city, in relation to devolution of contracting rights I think that is going to make the project to deliver all the other corridors much easier. We are here to show that the buses industry supports the city and we look forward to all the other corridors being launched,” says Maharaj. -Reporting by Zanele Buthelezi