Putco places a cushion on operational blows
The companies bolster to operations follows the death of six and at least 14 injured commuters in May, after a deadly bus fire occurred on the Moloto Road. Experts had also since been instituted to report what could’ve led to the blaze.
Putco has recently introduced 100 new buses into its operations of servicing Gauteng, Limpopo and Mpumalanga.
Of these buses 60 are set to bolster services on the Tshwane-Mpumalanga route, to cushion the company’s torment of buses being subject to impounding, due to slow issuing of operating licences, while theft of batteries, diesel and vandalism were other factors, causing disruption to services and leaving many commuters stranded.
Putco bus company business development executive Matlakala Motloung, said: “The new buses already introduced on the Moloto corridor are by far the most extensive bus replacement programme in the last 12 months.”
Motloung said in the recent past, Putco had faced impounding, theft of batteries and diesel and vandalism, which impacted negatively on commuters.
“Our biggest challenge has been the slow pace of issuing permits by the Gauteng transport operating licence administrative body, due to Covid-19 restrictions,” he said.
He said Putco was grateful that the Department of Roads and Transport had since intervened to fix the licensing issue.
“A process is now in place to fast-track the issuing of permits,” Motloung said.
He also implored on community members to report any theft, as the crime made it difficult to cover all shifts.
He said Putco took the safety of passengers seriously and had implemented various road safety initiatives to reduce the accident rate along Moloto Road, especially.
He said through the ramping up of buses, the company had empowered local small bus companies to operate an extra 50 buses from July 2021.
“The introduction of the new fleet will improve the reliability and quality of service to our valued customers and reduce the number of breakdowns.”
Motloung said: “If all things remain equal, this would see the entire fleet operating on that stretch of road, renewed in a short period of time which will greatly benefit passengers, however, this can only happen if government awards long term contracts.”
Last month, Gauteng roads and transport department set up a team of experts to probe the causes of a deadly bus fire on the Moloto Road in which six commuters died in May. At least 14 people were injured in the incident. The experts were given 30 days to finish their report.
The investigators were to submit recommendations to prevent similar incidents from happening again, said public transport and roads infrastructure MEC Jacob Mamabolo.
Senior counsel member of the panel advocate Myron Dewrance was appointed to lead the investigations.
He said the investigations would determine whether there was negligence on the part of the bus company, which was contracted to the department.
He said the investigation was important in giving the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives, as well as those injured, the truth of what happened so they could have “closure”.
“We know Putco is conducting its own investigation, however, we have appointed an independent team to probe the incident. They can’t be both the referee and player on this matter,” he said.
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