Taxi drivers who disrupted bus services offered by Putco’s replacement got very little sympathy from those affected on Thursday morning.
Buses run by Autopax — a subsidiary of the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa which was given a “temporary‚ three-month contract” to run buses on the routes abandoned by Putco – were stoned or prevented from operating for a second day.
Despite a heavy police presence‚ rubble has strewn on roadways and most of the buses that could operate did so under escort from law enforcement officials.
Saint Tshepo ?@tshepo2601 tweeted: “the taxi drivers in #Mamelodi don’t care about the people‚ they only care about their own pockets #Putco”‚ while Lebogang Sekonya ?@LeboH–Sekonya posted: “This Chaos in Mamelodi East must be solvd taxi should decrease their price to equal to buses”.
Nkhosi-Dlamini ?@OBsbuda‚ who was particularly vocal about the disruptions‚ told his followers: “#Putco. So much inconvenience bcoz a few have an overwhelming sense of entitlement. The people must be able to choose what to ride”.
He later added to this: “but are there no negotiations taking place elsewhere off site? Why must commuters suffer for things not of their doing?”
The protestors are said to be members of taxi associations who claim they were promised the routes abandoned by Putco from June 30 by the City of Tshwane.
According to Gauteng roads and transport MEC Ismail Vadi‚ there were “continuing discussions with Autopax with a view to concluding a more durable contract”.
Vadi didn’t seem to foresee the problem with the taxi associations whose members disrupted Autopax operations on Wednesday and on Thursday morning.
“There will be no disruption of bus services to the public‚” a statement released by his department said on Tuesday.
This differed slightly from a government statement issued on Monday saying the termination of Putco services in Tshwane‚ Ekurhuleni and Sedibeng municipalities with effect from June 30‚ 2015 could “leave many commuters and residents stranded with no transport operations to get to work or schools”.
Vadi said Autopax will operate the bus routes on the same timetables and fares as Putco’s‚ but “appealed to commuters to be patient should there be any teething problems in the changeover of operators”.
About a quarter of Autopax’s buses were reported to have managed to leave depots and get on some routes on Thursday.
Frustration over taxi drivers disrupting bus services
Taxi drivers who disrupted bus services offered by Putco’s replacement got very little sympathy from those affected on Thursday morning.
Buses run by Autopax — a subsidiary of the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa which was given a “temporary‚ three-month contract” to run buses on the routes abandoned by Putco – were stoned or prevented from operating for a second day.
Despite a heavy police presence‚ rubble has strewn on roadways and most of the buses that could operate did so under escort from law enforcement officials.
Saint Tshepo ?@tshepo2601 tweeted: “the taxi drivers in #Mamelodi don’t care about the people‚ they only care about their own pockets #Putco”‚ while Lebogang Sekonya ?@LeboH–Sekonya posted: “This Chaos in Mamelodi East must be solvd taxi should decrease their price to equal to buses”.
Nkhosi-Dlamini ?@OBsbuda‚ who was particularly vocal about the disruptions‚ told his followers: “#Putco. So much inconvenience bcoz a few have an overwhelming sense of entitlement. The people must be able to choose what to ride”.
He later added to this: “but are there no negotiations taking place elsewhere off site? Why must commuters suffer for things not of their doing?”
The protestors are said to be members of taxi associations who claim they were promised the routes abandoned by Putco from June 30 by the City of Tshwane.
According to Gauteng roads and transport MEC Ismail Vadi‚ there were “continuing discussions with Autopax with a view to concluding a more durable contract”.
Vadi didn’t seem to foresee the problem with the taxi associations whose members disrupted Autopax operations on Wednesday and on Thursday morning.
“There will be no disruption of bus services to the public‚” a statement released by his department said on Tuesday.
This differed slightly from a government statement issued on Monday saying the termination of Putco services in Tshwane‚ Ekurhuleni and Sedibeng municipalities with effect from June 30‚ 2015 could “leave many commuters and residents stranded with no transport operations to get to work or schools”.
Vadi said Autopax will operate the bus routes on the same timetables and fares as Putco’s‚ but “appealed to commuters to be patient should there be any teething problems in the changeover of operators”.
About a quarter of Autopax’s buses were reported to have managed to leave depots and get on some routes on Thursday.
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