Underfunding catalyst to turbulence in commuter transport industry‚ warns association

Underfunding of public transport is a catalyst to turbulence in the commuter transport industry‚ the Southern African Bus Operators Association (SABOA) said on Monday‚ warning that if this was not addressed urgently it could lead to a collapse in existing contract commuter bus services.

The association said it regretted the volatile situation in Mamelodi and the safety risk and inconvenience caused to the commuters and the community subsequent to Autopax taking over the contract bus services of Putco in this area on July 1.

Police were forced to deploy additional forces in the Pretoria east township on Friday when five people were wounded during a gun attack on a bus during three days of demonstrations by taxi drivers angry over Autopax taking over the routes previously used by Putco.

SABOA said it had been in discussions with government since 2012 to address the underfunding for public transport which‚ it said‚ had put existing contract commuter bus services at risk and prevented the transformation of this industry to include small bus operators and taxi operators in the mainstream of public transport.

“Government (i.e. National Department of Transport‚ National Treasury‚ Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Transport‚ various MEC’s for Transport) have been sensitised on numerous occasions that failing to address the underfunding of public transport will result in the withdrawal of contract commuter bus services which could have serious consequences for commuters‚ communities and operators.

“The contract commuter bus industry fully supports the transformation of the industry to include small bus operators and taxi operators however it has to be conducted in an orderly and structured manner. It is crucial that existing contract commuter bus services be placed in a financially viable position in the interim period until the transformation of the industry has been concluded‚” the association said.

“This will however require additional funding from government and SABOA wishes to urge government to address this issue as a matter of urgency‚ failing which existing contract commuter bus services could eventually collapse‚” it warned.

RDM News Wire.