The termination of Putco bus services could “leave many commuters and residents stranded with no transport operations to get to work or schools” from Wednesday.

In a statement on Monday‚ the Gauteng roads and transport department said that Putco “indicated…its intention to cease operations in Tshwane‚ Ekurhuleni and Sedibeng municipalities with effect from June 30‚ 2015”.

“The department would like to assure affected commuters that Autopax‚ a subsidiary of (the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa)‚ will step in to replace Putco on all the subsidised routes within the areas”.

Roads and transport MEC Ismail Vadi said during his recent budget vote speech that the department would to renegotiate subsidised contracts with bus companies in Gauteng and a joint working group has been constituted representing various municipalities‚ bus companies and the department”.