Johannesburg – Commuters in Gauteng will not be affected by any Putco bus services disruptions, Gauteng Transport MEC Ismail Vadi said on Tuesday.
Over 80 000 commuters who make use of Putco bus services in the Tshwane, Ekurhuleni and Sedibeng municipalities were in danger of being left stranded after Putco announced its suspension of its services to those areas, apparently due to ill managed bus subsidies and contracts that were not extended.
Vadi moved quickly to assure commuters that they would not be stranded.
“I am pleased that there will be no disruption of bus services to the public as we have signed a short term agreement with Autopax,” said Vadi.
Earlier this year Putco confirmed its intention to stop its operations in the affected municipalities. The department then negotiated with Putco to continue providing services until June 30. Putco therefore did not renew eight contracts on Monday and the department was forced to step in to ensure continuation of services to commuters in the interim.
Autopax, a state-owned entity and subsidiary of Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA), has been appointed for three months to operate the eight affected contracts until a more permanent solution was found.
“The department has entered into a temporary, three-month contract with Autopax to render continuity of services to the commuters in the affected areas of Mamelodi, Midvaal and Kathorus,” said Vadi.
Autopax would provide services to commuters on the same routes as Putco and at the same rates. The routes are: Kathorus, Edenvale, Germiston and Linbro Park; Kathorus and Johannesburg; Kathorus, Boksburg and Kempton Park; Evaton, Sebokeng, Orange Farm, Meyerton and surrounding areas; Mamelodi and southern suburbs of the Pretoria area; Mamelodi and eastern suburbs of the Pretoria area; Mamelodi and northern suburbs of the Pretoria area; and Mamelodi and Pretoria CBD.
Vadi appealed to commuters to “be patient should there be any teething problems in the changeover of operators”.
During this interim period, the department was also dealing with a pending litigation case with Putco over whether or not Autopax was compelled to take on employees who worked for Putco.
This matter was expected to be heard in court on Tuesday.
ANA