Expectations are high amongst the myriads of unemployed in the Thulamela area, where a R317 million public transport project was officially launched by theLimpopo MEC for Roads and Transport, Ms Pinkie Kekana, on Thursday.

She announced that 800 temporary jobs and 400 full-time jobs would be created when the project kicked off next month. The project is one of seven that are envisaged to be built around the province.

The objectives of the projects are to improve operational efficiency, provide safety and comfort, improve accessibility, reduce walking distances for passengers, reduce congestion, improve the system and provide a user-friendly facility to the disabled.

Speaking at the Thohoyandou Town Hall during the launch of the project, Kekana said the project would bring relief to the area as it would provide jobs. "This is the first of its kind and it is happening in your area,” she told thousands of ecstatic people.

According to her, the construction will start next month and is expected to be completed by November 2013. “An added benefit to the local authority is that additional revenue of rates and taxes from these commercial facilities will go towards the cost of running and maintaining the bus and taxi rank,” she said.

She said the objective was to promote a public transport system as well as reduce congestion.

She added that the project was a result of the government´s correcting the bad legacy of the past by transforming the transport system to enable all South Africans to be comfortable with public transport. “We have inherited many harsh realities and difficulties in terms of public transport,” she said. She added that "the National Household Travel Survey showed that nearly two thirds of households in South Africa do not have access to public transport".

Thulamela Mayor Norman Makumbane hailed the new facility, saying that this was what the people had been waiting for. “We used to travel long distances to see good things and it is our turn now that people will have to travel from far to come and see what we have here,” said an excited Makumbane.