Roadlink gets evicted

Controversial bus operator SA Roadlink has been ordered to vacate Park Station by the High Court in Johannesburg after it failed to pay rent, a property spokesman said.

"It defaulted with rental for parking lanes and ticketing offices and had an overdue account," Intersite spokesman Kenny Ramuthivheli told Sapa.

Intersite is the property management subsidiary of the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) that looks after train stations and surrounding property in South Africa.

"At court [on Wednesday], an order was granted for the payment of outstanding amounts and the eviction of Roadlink from premises," said Ramuthivheli.

The Sowetan reported that the court gave Roadlink 14 days to vacate the premises and ordered it to pay the amount owing, as well as a further R24,863 a month, backdated to June this year.

It also had to pay a 12.5 percent interest on the money owed. Court papers stated that Roadlink owed R562 431 to the rail agency.

Prasa and the owners of the station on Wednesday filed an urgent application against SA Shorthauls, the company that owned the bus fleet, and its owner Thagraj Reddy.

Roadlink chief executive Alan Reddy was not immediately available for comment.

The troubled operator has come under the spotlight numerous times after accidents involving its buses claimed lives, and unroadworthy buses were pulled off the roads.

Former KwaZulu-Natal transport MEC Bheki Cele, presently national police commissioner, at one point labelled the Roadlink fleet "coffins on wheels".