Shoddy Metro Bus service causes revealed
Waiting in vain, Metrobus users could be in for an even longer wait for buses as more buses are breaking down.
JOHANNESBURG SOUTH – Metrobus’s “notoriously late or non-existent service” as described by DA Councillor in City of Johannesburg, Gavin Ray, and the causes behind
their buses tardiness have been revealed.
According to the DA Cllr, Metrobus lost 60 out of 412 buses between June to August 2014, contributing to the City of Johannesburg-owned
company’s notoriously fickle service.
“The fourth quarter report for the company revealed that the buses became ‘uneconomical to repair’. This means in just three months close to 15 per cent of the company’s busses were brought to ruin. The reason behind these figures is that 63 per cent of the company’s buses are over 11 years old
and 17 per cent are more than 17 years old,” explained Cllr Ray in a press statement.
He added: “Considering that Metrobus can’t run all of its advertised routes and is frequently late, passengers must now face a future where even more ancient busses will likely be permanently shut down over the next three months. The City of Johannesburg cannot continue to ignore the state of this collapsing service.”
In a response by Metrobus to questions regarding the state of their services on November 3, seven months after Spokesperson for Metrobus Esther Dreyer commented to the CHRONICLE in the article ‘Metrobus Nightmare for Commuters’ (in March), she stated:
“The awarding of the tender of new buses is in its final stages at the City of Joburg. Inspections are ongoing. inspectors check tickets daily and other officials also do inspections regularly. They are aware of the shortcomings of the service i.e. shortage of buses, non-arrivals, late arrivals due to the unavailability of buses, overloading and frequent breakdowns.
“The problem has not been resolved as yet; it will only be resolved once we (Metrobus) receive additional buses.”
When asked if it was true that Metrobus lost 60 out of 412 buses between June and August 2014 due to the company terminating 60 buses in three months, Dreyer said: “Yes, buses have been withdrawn from service due to age, mechanical conditions and not being suitable for public use etc.”
On March 13, the CHRONICLE in the article ‘Metrobus Nightmare for Commuters’ reported that commuters who use Metrobus are very disgruntled with the service to Mulbarton. The article stated that for those Southerners who commute to work and back and use Metrobus services, life is far from rosy.
According to a Mulbarton resident who was fed up with the shenanigans at Metrobus, “while waiting once again for a bus in Ghandi Square, I asked one of the bus drivers what had happened to the 17:00 number 49 bus, his answer was: ‘the bus broke down’. I asked about the 17:20 bus and why that also didn’t arrive, same answer: ‘broke down’…”
Dreyer responded that Metrobus did have a challenge in terms of the availability of buses. However, the City Council approved the purchase of new buses and the tender has been advertised but not yet awarded.
“We are aware of problems with overloading, crowding, especially when trips are running late due to bus availability, therefore superintendents, inspectors and managers from head office are doing random checks on all buses, on all routes, since February.
“Drivers have picked new shifts, which will be implemented as from April 1, 2014. With the new shift allocation, management is attempting to address problems such as the bus shortage, overloading, late or non-arrivals. Despite our numerous challenges, Metrobus remains committed to improving the
bus service provided to residents of the greater Johannesburg area,” Dreyer said in March 2014.
