Sudden news that Eldo Coaches is stopping its long-distance operations has been met with mixed reaction by its passengers.
On Monday, the company announced on its social media platforms that it would be temporarily suspending its long-distance operations “until further notice”.
“Eldo Coaches wishes to inform its loyal passengers that the company is suspending their long-distance services from June 20 until further notice. This decision will allow the company to re-evaluate their intercity division and routes,” reads the statement.
The company added that the final Durban to Johannesburg trip would take place on June 19.
The news comes after at least two incidents between Sunday and Monday that left travellers frustrated on the Durban to Johannesburg route.
Passengers told of administrative and mechanical failures this week.
Shaida Essack, who boarded in Pietermaritzburg, said her journey was a “nightmare”.
Essack said she and other passengers were picked up from the terminal reserved for Eldo Coaches in Pietermaritzburg two hours after the scheduled departure time, the bus had no branding and was in a “clearly unroadworthy” state.
“The bus that came had no name on it. We could see when we got on to the bus that it could never reach Johannesburg, and just 3km outside Pietermaritzburg it broke down,” she said.
“The gearbox started to steam and there was no way the bus could move. It was completely unroadworthy, even the gear was covered with duct tape.”
She said they were made to wait three hours for another bus to take them to Johannesburg but when it finally came, it was again not an Eldo Coaches vehicle but from Kalamazoo Coach Lines.
“We reached Johannesburg around 23.30,” she said.
Essack said the bus which broke down was impounded by the KZN Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) when one of the passengers called a senior transport official.
RTI spokesperson Zinhle Mngomezulu said: “One of the passengers contacted the MEC and complained that it was unroadworthy. It was taken to uKhondeni due to clutch problems, as per the driver's claim.”
Essack shared pictures which showed a gear lever covered in duct tape, exposed wiring on the driver's side and a dashboard in a state of disrepair.
On Monday, Twitter user Thabang Nong (@thizbo_) posted: “Poor service from @eldocoaches this bus from Durban to Joburg broke down around 1am this morning, leaving passengers stranded. Instead of sending another bus at 9.15am they send a mechanic, we need a refund!”
Essack added that the lack of communication from the company's head office made the experience even more difficult to deal with.
“They didn’t even send an SMS to say the bus broke down and they would be sending another one, nothing. Not even an apology,” she said.
“When you call their head office, there’s no answer, their lines do not work. Even the lady at their reception did not know what was going on and there was no need to fight with her.”
Efforts to reach Eldo Coaches for comment proved unsuccessful.
Reacting to the announcement on Facebook, the majority of passengers expressed their pleasure at the suspension of the long-distance operations.
“Thanks for leaving,” said Siya Mteto Klaas.
“It's not like it worked before anyway,” added Naledi Angela Barnett.
Others lamented the company's poor customer service.
“Worse service ever, I'm not surprised or shocked that the company is closing,” said Nandipha Khumalo
“The worst service I've got. On the 15th I was supposed to [be] going to Mthatha from Bloemfontein. Only to find out at the tourist centre that there will be no bus. They did not even contact me, I had to buy the other bus ticket in order to leave. Bloem Eldo Coaches the worst service ever,” said Esihle Ndlebe.
Many were left wondering whether they would be refunded. Some alleged they had been waiting up to three years, with the company not responding to their calls or e-mails.
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