Angry Putco commuters block depots over fare hikes
Putco bus services were not operating on Monday morning due to a protest by commuters who are angry at a hike in fares.
Hundreds of commuters were left stranded as the buses were blocked from leaving the depot by demonstrators at the Dobosnville and Soshanguve depots.
Putco management is blaming the increased fuel price for its bus fare hike saying it has negatively impacted their operating costs.
The new bus fares will come into effect from 1 August.
Old fare compared to the new fare: Soshanguve to Pretoria
Daily bus ticket from R26 to R31
Weekly bus ticket from R259 to R316
Monthly bus ticket from R1048 to R1279
Soweto to Sandton
Daily bus ticket from R13 to R15
Weekly bus ticket from R172 to R205
Monthly bus ticket from R1237 to R1471
"Putco has been absorbing the fuel price increases for many months, however, it has now become unaffordable. It is regrettable that there is no other option but to implement a special fuel-related fare increase.
"Putco regrets the impact this inevitable increase will have on our passengers and assure them that the company waited as long as possible before making this decision and will continue to absorb a large part of this increase, to avoid passing it all onto our commuters,” said spokesperson Matlakala Motloung.
Motloung also says Putco has used a portion of its revenue to replace older generation buses in the last few years in an effort to introduce more fuel-efficient and lower emission vehicles.
Putco also provides services in Limpopo and Mpumalanga.
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