Heavy burden on commuters as bus fares multiply by 10
COMMUTERS who use the services of Great North Transport (GNT) in various parts of Mopani are up in arms after GNT's fares were increased by 10% since the beginning of the month.
MOPANI – COMMUTERS who use the services of Great North Transport (GNT) in various parts of Mopani are up in arms after GNT’s fares were increased by 10% since the beginning of the month.
They said the increase had caused them financial strain as it was very high. The passengers who were mostly affected were those buying monthly or weekly tickets as the prices increased over 10% in these cases.
According to one passenger from Motjeteng village near Lenyenye, who did not wish to be identified, he used to pay R80 weekly and adding the increased percentage the price was supposed to be R88, but GNT now charged R122, which was a heavy burden for poor workers.
He said the community of Motjeteng village had met on Sunday and taken the decision to ask the Maake Traditional Authority to send a letter to GNT asking them to reduce prices so that everyone could afford to use the buses.
The letter would be delivered to the offices of GNT on Wednesday and from there commuters would wait for the management to do their part.
Several commuters told CV they no longer relied on the bus because the prices were the same as taxi prices.
CV tried to contact GNT for comment, but an employee, who declined to identify himself, refused to comment on the matter.
Buckels Napo, spokesperson for economic development, environment and tourism, under which GNT falls, said they were not aware that prices in some areas were too high, and promised that they would investigate.
