Putco bus service leaves commuters stranded
JOBURG – Putco bus service has stopped operation in Gauteng from 1 July.
The Public Utility Transport Corporation (Putco) bus has left commuters stranded as of 1 July.
The Gauteng Roads and Transport Department (GRTD) has announced in a statement that Putco bus service has indicated to the Department its intentions to stop operations in Tswane, Ekurhuleni and Sedibeng.
However, DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Roads and Transport Neil Campbell said this is the result of the GRTD’s inability to effectively utilise bus subsidies.
“While MEC for Roads and Transport Dr Ismail Vadi announced his department had made arrangements with Autopax, a subsidiary bus company of Passenger Rail Agency South Africa, to take over these routes – this move may be too little too late as Putco has warned since the beginning of the year that it had been running at a loss and could no longer sustain several operations in the province,” said Campbell.
He added, “The flaw lies in the mismanagement of the bus subsidy which GDRT receives from the National Department of Transport.”
Campbell also stated that more should have been done by Vadi to provide certainty for Gauteng’s bus commuters.
