GAUTENG community safety MEC Khabisi Mosunkutu has ordered tough action to be taken against Putco buses operating on the Moloto road.

GAUTENG community safety MEC Khabisi Mosunkutu has ordered tough action to be taken against Putco buses operating on the Moloto road.

This after a Putco bus overturned and claimed the lives of four people and injured another 66 yesterday.

Mosunkutu has instructed traffic officials to increase the testing of Putco buses. He also ordered them to increase the presence and visibility of traffic officials on the Moloto road.

He demanded that they randomly board Putco buses and observe driver-passenger interaction.

Cosatu called on the government to suspend Putco bus operations on the "killer road" before they claim more lives.

"We demand that the government arrest and open criminal cases against Putco management for the murder of our people," Cosatu said.

"We also call on our provincial government and the premier to speed up construction of the Moloto Rail Corridor to provide alternative transport to the people of Mpumalanga."

Putco said they would reduce the maximum speed on their buses to 80km and order their drivers not to overtake.

Putco spokesperson Raphiri Matsaneng said the cause of yesterday's accident was still unknown but investigations were continuing.

Yesterday's accident brought to 26 the number of commuters killed since October 10. A case of culpable homicide will be investigated against the driver.