Putco bus commuters lambaste service

       

Scores of clients wait for the bus at Mabopane station.

Ernest Mabasa

Soshanguve putco bus commutershave criticised the poor service they were receiving at Mabopane station.

Mmamakele Matlala, a bus commuter, said: “They do not treat their loyal clients. Buses are always late.”

Various commuters told Rekord that buses leaked when it rained.

 

One of the Putco bus company officials at Mabopane who wanted to remain anonymous said: “It is true buses leak and they do not arrive on time sometime, because we do not have enough buses to cater all the commuters at this point.

We reported this issue to management and so far they have done nothing.” Dianah Mashigo, a resident of Block P, said that they had to carry umbrellas in the bus because it leaked.

 

The commuters buy weekly and monthly tickets but this did not guarantee the use of the bus regularly. “We find it very pathetic to buy weekly and monthly tickets and buses do not even come. We are forced to use pocket money to take Venture taxis to home while we have bought our weekly or monthly tickets, said, Millicent Kovane.”

 In the morning 15th February, there are no buses from Soshanguve Block MM to Mabopane. Buses did not always reach Block MM and the buses sometimes stopped at Block P while people are going to Block R,” Kovane said.

Employers threatened to fire their employees because they arrive at work late. Marriam Nhlapo, a client and resident, said: “The transport service is poor that people from Sonoville and other suburbs fill the buses and we get to work late. Our employers threaten to fire us.”

 

Nelly Baloyi, a bus commuter, told Rekord that it was possible for the commuters to queue for the bus for three hours mostly on Thursday and Friday mornings. Rekord called the Putco bus company for comment and phones were out of order.