Bus services provider Putco has put the brakes on its transportation services in Gauteng due to diesel shortages and unpaid money by the government.

In a statement, the bus service said its operations would halt from yesterday until further notice.

“Putco regrets to inform passengers that the company will not be able to carry out its bus service from May 4 until further notice due to diesel shortages.

“The disruption is as a result of unpaid March subsidy claims by the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport.”

It, however, said the bus operator is working closely with the government to ensure that payments are processed as soon as possible to avoid a prolonged service disruption.

“Putco regrets the inconvenience this will cause. Should the situation improve, commuters will be informed timeously.”

The Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport has in turn blamed the delayed Putco payments on delays in receiving their grant money from National Treasury.

Gauteng Roads and Transport Department spokesperson Melitah Madiba says the payments to Putco for the portion of March were being captured and planned to reflect on the bus operators’ bank account by May 8.

She adds the delay was due to transactions from different bank accounts, which are expected to take about three days to reflect.

“Delays in processing subsidised bus operators’ payments for March are as a result of […] the Public Transport Operating Grant (PTOG) only being transferred to the province by the National Department of Transport in the first week of May each financial year.”

Madiba says the department manages about 34 bus subsidy contracts operating in Johannesburg, Tshwane, Ekurhuleni as well as Sedibeng.

“Twenty-six of these are tendered contracts while the remaining eight are interim contracts. These are funded through the PTOG.

“The department’s primary interest is to ensure the service is available to avoid huge inconveniences to passengers when it comes to transport services.”

She says the department is working with Putco to find a solution to ensure minimal service disruption and inconvenience to passengers.