Putco announces fares increases up to R7
“Putco has been severely affected, absorbing the fuel price increases for many months but this has now become unaffordable.”
Bus company Putco said it has been left with no option but to increase fares due to the latest rise in fuel prices.
Putco provides public transportation throughout Gauteng, Mpumalanga and Limpopo.
Business development executive Matlakala Motloung said the recent diesel price increases were affecting public transport operations.
“Diesel accounts for 30% of operating costs; however, in June it skyrocketed close to 50%.”
She said the diesel price had increased substantially from R14.71 in June 2021 to R25.53 in June 2022.
Motloung said the fare increase would commence on August 1.
The increase will range from R2 for short trips, up to R7 for long trips.
She said the company regretted the impact that the increases would have on commuters.
“The company waited as long as possible before making this decision and will continue to absorb a large part of this increase to avoid passing it all onto our commuters.”
“Putco has been severely affected, absorbing the fuel price increases for many months and it has now become unaffordable.”
She said the government subsidy for public transport had also remained below inflation.
“The bus subsidy allocation decreased from April as fuel prices were skyrocketing.”
Motloung said the government had offered up R1.50 per litre from the general fuel levy as temporary relief to motorists.
She said the relief however did very little to alleviate the burden on public transport operators.
Putco was also replacing older generation buses to introduce more fuel-efficient ones as a means to soften the fuel blow further.
The bus industry through the Southern African Bus Operators Association (SABOA) recently urged the government to find long-term solutions to alleviate the high fuel cost burden on public transport operators, said Motloung.
She said the bus industry was still awaiting a workable solution.
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