IPTS routes to start running in July

By Patrick Cull

THE first routes on the long- awaited Integrated Public Transport System (IPTS) between Motherwell, Njoli Square and Greenacres, and Uitenhage and KwaNobuhle will start running from July 1.
A report to the Nelson Mandela Bay council on Friday said that following a workshop on Wednesday it had been agreed that during peak hours in the morning “express buses” would run directly from Motherwell to Greenacres via the freeway. Others buses would link Njoli Square and the shopping centre.
At peak periods, the buses will operate at 10 minute intervals “so there is no demand for more buses in the Motherwell-Njoli area”.
The buses purchased for the 2010 World Cup will be used and divided between the Port Elizabeth and Uitenhage routes.
The launch of the IPTS follows an agreement between the municipality, Laphu’milanga Secondary Cooperative – which represents the taxi associations – and the Algoa Bus Company.
The report says a “high-level dispute resolution and political structure” has been put in place involving the politicians and the chairman of the secondary cooperative.
Seven work streams have been set up to address outstanding issues that include loading facilities at Motherwell and Greenacres, finalisation of bus stops and removal of speed humps.
The next route on which the IPTS will be rolled out is Cleary Park, from January next year.

This is a version of an article that first appeared in the print edition of Weekend Post on Saturday May 12, 2012.

Road rage victim forgives attacker

Lorna Poulter before being released from hospital. Picture: Yolande Stander

By Yolandé Stander

THE victim of the savage Nelson Mandela Bay road rage attack that began with an altercation over a donkey cart has spoken about her ordeal for the first time.
Speaking to Weekend Post from her hospital bed at Greenacres on Thursday, Greenshields Park resident Lorna Poulter said she had suffered memory loss as a result of the brutal attack that nearly claimed her life earlier this month.
Poulter, 51, was attacked at about 10pm on April 3 by a driver wielding a wheel spanner after she had stopped in the road to berate two men on an overloaded donkey cart in Main Road, Walmer. Xolisa Ntantiso of Walmer allegedly pulled up in his car and a heated argument ensued. The state alleges he then went back to his car, took out a wheel spanner and proceeded to attack Poulter.
Ntantiso was arrested at the scene and initially faced a case of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, but this was later changed to attempted murder. The case was postponed until June 4.
A fierce animal lover, Poulter nearly bled to death on the pavement near 17th Avenue after the savage beating. She remained in a coma for days after the incident and only began showing signs of recovery last week.
Still struggling to come to terms with the emotional trauma of the incident, Poulter said the attack was still very “foggy” in her mind and that “pieces of that night” were missing.
“I remember pulling over to speak to the men who had heavily overloaded their donkey cart, but after that I can’t remember anything. The next thing I can recall is waking up in hospital,” she said softly.
She was not angry at her attacker and said she had  forgiven him.
Poulter also said she was not upset by the Port Elizabeth Magistrate’s Court decision on Thursday to grant Ntantiso bail of only R400 even though the amount sent shockwaves through the community, many feeling it was too little to fit the crime of attempted murder.
Poulter said her pets were the first thing she thought of when she came out of the coma. “Luckily my neighbours jumped in and took care of them.”

This is a shortened version of an article that first appeared in the print edition of Weekend Post on Saturday April 21, 2012.