There is a possibility that Gauteng commuters will be left stranded on 1 April as a result of a bus strike.
According to Dr Neil Campbell, DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Roads and Transport, “Yesterday afternoon, Putco bus company distributed letters to commuters informing them that routes from Mamelodi to Pretoria’s CBD as well as Southern, Northern and Eastern Suburbs would be suspended as of 1 April.”
Campbell continued “Bus services in Kathorus (Ekurhuleni) and Meyerton (Midvaal) will also be affected.”
He explains that Putco has been receiving government subsidies for a long time and over the years, said subsidies have not kept up with the pace of operating costs and route expansions. In addition to this, he says, the government did not provide Putco with contractual security.
“The upshot of this was that Putco undercapitalised in new vehicles, with a detrimental effect on commuter and road safety. The fact is that government slowly caused Putco’s demise and will be forced to face the wrath of thousands of angry commuters less than 20 days from now,” he said.
Campbell states that the critical issue here is that commuters are not left stranded.
He calls on Gauteng Roads and Transport MEC, Ismail Vadi to begin talks with Transport Minister Dipuo Peters to prevent commuters from being stranded.
