People with physical challenges will be able to easily access public transport facilities to memorial service for former President Nelson Mandela

10 December 2013

Pretoria – The morning of 10 December 2013 dawned with multitudes of South Africans and foreign nationals alike making their way to the FNB Stadium and other public viewing sites to pay homage to former President Nelson Mandela.

The national memorial event will be held at the FNB Stadium in Soweto, Johannesburg and the official proceedings will begin at 11h00.

South Africa’s Constitution makes it incumbent upon each of us to create the conditions for a non-discriminatory society. In line with this commitment, government wishes to reiterate that access to the public transport facilities and the FNB Stadium for people with physical challenges will be easy and convenient.

FNB Stadium

Wheelchair access is available on Level 2 of the stadium. It is accessible via Gate J, Turnstile Number 12.

The Gautrain

The Gautrain System provides facilities for mobility-impaired passengers as well as passengers with special needs.

Wheelchair-friendly access is provided at all stations, on all trains and on every second bus.

The system has accessibility features to aid people with difficulties in walking, gripping, reaching or balancing (including non-slip surfaces, handrails and handholds).

Blind and partially sighted people are assisted through the consistent use of colour contrasts, clear signage and lighting, non-reflective surfaces, tactile surfaces, audible as well as visual announcements.

Passengers that are hard-of-hearing are assisted through induction loops and visually through clear signage.

Other facilities:

• The Gautrain parking areas are equipped with dedicated parking bays for people with disabilities located very close to the entrance of the station.

• There is easy access to the Ticket Vending Machine (TVM), the emergency telephone (E-Tel) at concourse level, in the unpaid area.

• At concourse level, access to the paid area is through the service gate or wide fare gate.

• Elevators/lifts are available, if necessary, to reach the platforms.

• All elevators/lifts have pushbuttons at the correct height.

• Inside the train there is a dedicated area for wheelchairs in the pantograph (Ptos) carriage.

Metrorail

Metrorail stations are equipped with facilities for people with disabilities and higher-than-normal passenger numbers, besides other factors.

Rea-Vaya

The Rea-Vaya buses and its stations are equipped to enable the easy mobility for those with physical challenges including raised platforms, ramps leading up to the stations, lifts onto the buses, handrails on either side of the ramps as well as rest rails at the stations.

The window height of the ticketing booth is lower to accommodate people in wheelchairs and the booths have also been designed so that there is enough space to allow people in wheelchairs to work there.

For visually impaired commuters, the ramps have lights on either sides and specific colours are used inside the station; for example, there are yellow blocks at the areas where the bus doors will open for boarding.

Each station also has an electronic variable message system in different languages for the hearing impaired. Complementary buses can accommodate at least one wheelchair and have a kerbside lift, while each articulated bus – which has level boarding – can cater for two wheelchairs. Complementary buses also have grab rails and lower stairs on the kerbside, making for easy access.

Luminous floor strips and textured handrails help guide the visually impaired to the seats and exits. Visual and audio communication systems are used on the buses, and there are push buttons so that less mobile passengers can alert the driver if they need more time to get off the bus.

Enquiries:
Government information centre
Tel: 012 473 0389
E-mail: information@gcis.gov.za

Details are also available on: www.mandela.gov.za

Issued by: Government Communication and Information System (GCIS)