BUSCOR
© MAN TRUCK AND BUS
BUSCOR
Safe, Reliable and Affordable Buscor Set For Further
Improvement
PRODUCTION: David Napier
Buscor is adding seven new bi-articulated buses to its fleet and starting work on a new terminal in Malelane. This is an extremely busy but exciting time for one of Mpumalanga’s leading transportation companies. Executive Chairperson Nora Fakude-Nkuna tells us more about Buscor’s expansion strategy for 2017 and beyond as it looks to tighten its grip on the industry’s pole position.
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Mpumalanga’s passenger bus operator, Buscor, is welcoming seven new bi-articulated buses to its fleet and Executive Chairperson Nora Fakude-Nkuna is delighted with the feedback received from customers. “Initially, everybody was sceptical about the buses because when you’re sitting at the back you can’t see the driver, but with the performance of the bus – the comfort and safety – people have started to really appreciate the buses and enjoy the
ride,” she says. Bi-articulated buses are highcapacity passenger buses, made up of three carriages with two articulation points. They allow for the movement of more people within a single vehicle, improving company efficiencies and lessening Buscor’s environmental impact. “We started introducing the bi-articulated buses around 20 years ago and we grew from four to 22. I believe that this is the future because
it’s a high-volume vehicle, carrying an increased number of passengers with the same number of buses, and it will help the industry make savings. “They are used across our operational area in Mpumalanga. We use them on the longest routes because that is where they work best. The longest route is around 140 km and has only a few stops so these buses offer comfort from departure to destination,” says Fakude-Nkuna. Ongoing investment into Continues on page 26 www.enterprise-africa.net / 3
PROVIDING BUSCOR WITH BUSES
FOR NOW AND THE FUTURE tel: +27 928 6800 email: man.marketingsa@za.man-mn.com www.mantruckandbus.co.za
//MAN AUTOMOTIVE SOUTH AFRICA MAN Lion’s Explorer Bus Family It’s obvious at first glance that this is a real MAN. Modern but timeless. The successor to the well known Explorer range of bodies, is designed for African conditions to exacting European standards. The body styling is in line with the MAN Lion’s family of City and Intercity buses from Germany. MAN – Reliable, Affordable, Innovative and Safe With the extensive knowledge gained from introducing thousands of reliable Lion’s Explorer bodies to the South African market since 1999, MAN is continuously improving their range, by keeping the customers needs in mind. State-of-the-art Driveline You notice it when you start. You feel it when you accelerate. You experience it on every kilometre you drive. MAN’s powerful common rail diesel engines have the torque and economy to match the exceptional reliability. In combination with the various transmissions (manual, automatic and TipMatic) the engines with ratings from 176kW (240hp) to 265kW (360hp) give the MAN HP bus chassis exceptional driving performance. The common rail injection system is quieter and complies with Euro 3 emission standards. The exciting models in the MAN HB chassis range: • HB2-240 18.240 BB FOCR 4x2 chassis with Voith Automatic transmission • HB3-360 18.360 LL FOCR 4x2 chassis with TipMatic transmission • HB4-360 26.360 LL FOCNR 6x2 chassis with TipMatic transmission • HB4T-360 26.360 LL FOCNR Bustrain (6x2 prime mover) with TipMatic transmission The body models available: • MAN Lion’s Explorer 12.5m bodywork with MAN HB2 and HB3 chassis • MAN Lion’s Explorer 13.9m bodywork on MAN HB4 chassis • MAN Lion’s Explorer 22m Bus Train bodywork on MAN HB4 chassis The MAN Lion’s Explorer body range incorporates: Innovative modular designs resulting in customization options which meet our customers’ individual requirements Highest safety standards, complying with all the SABS compulsory standards relating to safety, including body roll-over structural strength, seat strength and anchorage, as well as emergency exit requirements are incorporated H7 (High intensity) headlights with LED running strips are fitted as standard to all Lion’s Explorer bodies, enhancing safety and night-driving capability Stylish Design With its attractive appearance and styling, the Lion’s Explorer creates a striking all-round impression. Its design is futuristic, retaining the allimportant values of safety and comfort for driver and passengers alike. A curve rubber-glazed windscreen and curved rear–view mirrors allow the driver greater peripheral vision and reduce the glare. The front grille design improves airflow for cooling and allows easy access for daily maintenance checks. The body exterior rear panel in uncluttered allowing ‘travelling billboard’ revenue generating possibilities. Safety First The wider pneumatically operated passenger door has large glass panels for improved driver curb-side visibility and styling. The entrance has adequate passenger handrails and non-slip flooring which will help improve passenger boarding and alighting from the bus. An out-swing step can also be fitted to reduce the first step eight to 300mm (optional extra). All doors are interlinked to the park brake as an additional safety feature. In addition to the EBS 5 braking system, a retarder or intarder (depending on the chassis model) is standard fitment on all MAN HB bus chassis, ensuring that all the chassis braking safety standards are exceeded. Travelling in Comfort The passenger saloon area combines comfort, safety and functional design. Panoramic windows and the use of attractive practical interior finishing materials, create a bright and friendly atmosphere. The many seating options and styles available from our list of recommended suppliers enhance the interior comfort and appearance. The driver’s workstation, with it attractive design, is in a class of its own. The controls are logically arranged and within easy reach of the driver, focussing on the central LCD display which incorporates all servicing and diagnostic information. The driver’s seat and steering wheel are pneumatically adjustable ensuring the ultimate in driver comfort. MAN is the preferred bus supplier to Buscor and has partnered with Mpumalanga’s leading bus operator for more than a decade. Buscor’s Executive Chairperson, Nora Fakude-Nkuna is proud of the partnership saying: “We are very pleased to have developed our strong partnership with MAN Automotive SA and that helps us source parts quickly and easily. Our workshops and mechanics are accredited by MAN meaning that we work to their international standards. “…we replace 10% of our fleet per annum, which is around 42 buses, and MAN is busy with that order right now.” www.mantruckandbus.co.za
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BUSCOR
//WE ARE VERY PLEASED TO HAVE DEVELOPED OUR STRONG PARTNERSHIP WITH MAN AUTOMOTIVE SA AND THAT HELPS US SOURCE PARTS QUICKLY AND EASILY// Continues from page 23 the fleet is a hallmark of Buscor’s strategy. Being technologically advanced, efficient, reliable and, above all, safe is key to the company’s continuing development. “These are very exciting times, and very exciting for our passengers. Everything we do is for the comfort and safety of our passengers.” Founded in 1980 after the amalgamation of Matsebula Bus Service and Stick Nyalunga (two local family-run bus service providers), Buscor has been focusing on commuter bus services in Mpumalanga’s Lowveld region and coach services across sub-Saharan Africa through its Protours division. With more than 450 buses (the largest bus train fleet in Africa), ferrying more than 35 million passengers across more than 35 million km of road each year, the company is recognised as an industry leader and Fakude-Nkuna puts this down to strong partnerships and robust planning. BUILDING TOGETHER “Standardisation sets us apart from our competitors,” explains Fakude-Nkuna. “We are very pleased to have developed our strong partnership with MAN Automotive SA and that helps us source parts quickly and easily. Our workshops and mechanics are accredited by MAN meaning that we work to their international standards.” When Buscor initially tabled the plans for the introduction of biarticulated and train buses, all of the design work was completed in-house, and the initial construction was undertaken in Buscor workshops. MAN came onboard and added considerable global expertise to the operation. “It is a very strong partnership. We
were delighted when they bought into our ideas and agreed to manufacturer the chassis’,” says Fakude-Nkuna. “MAN is our only bus supplier apart from a few on the private hire and charter side of the business – all of our commuter buses come from MAN. Initially, when we came up with the idea, our engineering department built the first four buses and we had them homologated, tested and registered. MAN then looked at the performance of those prototypes and they realised there was an opportunity. They had bi-articulated buses in their portfolio, but they were rear-engine buses used in Europe and elsewhere. Ours was different as it was a front engine bus designed to run on a dust road. They agreed to develop the first six, and then we grew to ten and added more each year. These seven new buses will bring us to 29 in total.” The new bi-articulate buses will be delivered in the next few weeks and will represent the final additions to the fleet for 2017. “Usually, we only take delivery of new buses up until September, but with the bi-articulate buses, we allow until November because we recognise that these are not easy buses to build,” says FakudeNkuna. “It’s not only the seven biarticulate buses; all in all, we replace 10% of our fleet per annum, which is around 42 buses and MAN is busy with that order right now.” Popular with customers and managers, and lauded by the manufacturers; are Buscor’s biarticulates well-received by the company’s vast team of drivers? “Oh yes,” says Fakude-Nkuna. “We have a number of ladies driving the buses and they claim it drives better than the train bus. They say it turns easier
and drives better. We don’t allow a driver to exceed 80 km/h, making it safer. The drivers really adore these buses – if it were only up to them, we’d be ordering a lot more biarticulated buses!” NEW TERMINAL Over the years, Buscor’s reach has grown across the province and its services now extend from Hazyview in the north to Barberton in the south, and from Ngodwana in the west to Komatipoort in the east. In total, Mpumalanga covers more than 75,000 km2 and many of the rural towns and villages rely on Buscor for commuter services, heading to Nelspruit and communities bordering the Kruger Park for employment opportunities. Movement of the large numbers experienced through Buscor terminals requires safe, modern and reliable facilities and so the company is preparing to complete a full overhaul of the terminus at Malelane. The company’s terminals at White River and Nelspruit were successfully upgraded in 2016 and 2014 respectively. “We have three main depots at White River, Nelspruit and Malelane,” details Fakude-Nkuna. “White River and Nelspruit have world-class terminals but Malelane is still older and that is where we are busy developing now. We’re undertaking all the environmental impact studies and looking at rezoning the land to ensure we gain all the necessary legal permissions. “It will be a tremendous improvement. I wouldn’t call what we have now a real terminal but when complete, it is likely to be better than the quality facility we have at White River. “We aim to have operations starting in January following the holiday period. Depending on the contractors, we are aiming to move in by the end of November,” she adds. The build of the new terminal will create jobs and opportunities for local people and companies, and will help
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INDUSTRY FOCUS: AUTOMOTIVE
// 180,000 Passengers per day
Buscor provide a punctual service, which it says ‘plays a major role in the total efficiency of the economy’.
NORA FAKUDE-NKUNA
Executive Chairperson 8 / www.enterprise-africa.net
BRIGHT FUTURE Effective future planning has and will position Buscor strongly for the future, whatever that may hold. Earlier in the year, economists were extremely concerned as South Africa slipped into technical recession, but in August it was announced that the economy had grown by 2.5% in the second quarter representing an end to the recessionary period. Fakude-Nkuna points out that planning for the long-term combined with the scale that the business has managed to achieve has helped shield it from economic headwinds. “We can feel the pinch like most businesses do,” she says. “However, we
have been proactive in our planning as we knew this time would come. This has helped us to be stable during these trying times. When we started we had only a few buses carrying 65 passengers. Now, our smallest bus carries 80 passengers and we’ve introduced train buses which allow us to save on fuel, maintenance and engine parts. We have one of the largest fleets of train buses on the continent and now we have introduced the bi-articulated because they help add capacity without adding more staff. These plans have helped us mitigate against the prevailing economic situation. Today, we are transporting around 180,000 passengers per day and we are committed to efficiency and forward planning.” And with Mpumalanga just last month acting as host province for SA’s
BUSCOR
© MAN TRUCK AND BUS
Tourism Month, there is a hope that more South African’s will choose the province for domestic vacations – with mountains, canyons, waterfalls, wildlife and of course, the Kruger National Park, it has everything any tourist could wish for. “We operate in very rural areas and so we have to think on our feet but we do have a plan that works for us and we continue to perform much better than our peers,” says Fakude-Nkuna. We are moving towards installing free Wi-Fi to our buses. We started with a pilot project using just four buses at the Nelspruit terminal. This initiative is bridging the gap and making internet accessible to people living in underdeveloped communities. The Wi-Fi will be totally free to the user at all times. We hope the passengers will utilise the technology during all their bus trips.
We believe by the end of the current financial year all our buses will be fitted with Wi-Fi.” She concludes by listing just a few of the company’s achievements from recent years that are reasons for Buscor to be proud and for customers to be confident. “We are the first commuter company to introduce a bus for disabled passengers; we’ve installed a system to help blind passengers stay safe onboard; we’ve just finished retrofitting a number of buses with a new kneeling mechanism; we are busy putting together a team to head out to Germany, Sweden and Poland to see what the world is doing and research what is relevant for us; and we are adding seven new bi-articulates and a new terminal so this is a very exciting time.
“We see growth in communities; there’s new suburbs growing all the time and new areas of labour growth. We’re eyeing subtle growth without provoking attention of our competitors. On the luxury coaches side, we are aggressively growing. With Protours, we started with Centurion, then Cape Town then Port Elizabeth and now Durban – our buses will continue to move through the SADC region and we are very happy about that.”
BUSCOR 013-753 6000 buscor@buscor.co.za www.buscor.co.za
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AFRICA
THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE FOR AFRICA’S INDUSTRY LEADERS
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Issue No.63
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TRANSNET PORT TERMINALS
Making SA Ports
World Class Exclusive Interview with
Nozipho Sithole
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:
SANSA / Imperial Holdings / Select PPE / Matus
A S F E AT U R E D I N
ENTERPRISE AFRICA
OCTOBER 2017