PORT ELIZABETH - ALGOA BUS TO RAISE BUS FARES THIS WEEKEND WITH TAXI PRICE INCREASE IMMINENT

Taxi price increases to follow soon

Bus fares for thousands of Nelson Mandela Bay commuters will increase this weekend by 60c or more. The Algoa Bus company, which said it had avoided an increase since July last year, will raise its fares tomorrow on all five routes.

At least 79 000 commuters use the buses every weekday.

Fares for adults will increase by 80c, with children under the age of 12 and pensioners paying an extra 60c.

Company chief executive Sicelo Duze said the increase had become unavoidable.

“This is due to increased operational costs based on ages and exchange rates which affect the prices of buses and spares.”

Duze said the company had absorbed the cost of an increase since last year.

The price hike was met with mixed reaction from commuters.

Joshua Omolo, 26, who is used to paying R9.20 from Port Elizabeth’s CBD to NMMU, will now fork out R10.

“I don’t see the reason they had to increase these prices because when petrol goes down, their prices will remain the same,” Omolo said.

“It was only a year ago when they increased the prices – maybe they should have considered increasing the prices next year,” Omolo said.

Dudu Fani, 40, who uses a bus from Linton Grange to Rowallan Park for work, said the increase was expected.

“It is only fair for them to increase their prices considering the fact that the petrol price goes up almost every month.

“Algoa Bus can’t be running at a loss. If the buses are not in good condition, people will still complain,” Fani said.

Portia Naude, 52, of Uitenhage, said she paid R9.20 from Port Elizabeth’s CBD to Greenacres and this would go up to R10.

“People take the bus because they cannot afford taxi fares, but now there is no difference,” she said.

Pumelele Yako, 23, of Rowallan Park, said she avoided taxis because buses were more affordable.

“But with the rate bus fares are rising, prices will be the same as for taxis.

“There will no longer be a need to take buses because taxis are cheaper.

“Algoa Bus bosses should consider the fact that people want affordable transport,” Yako said.

Meanwhile, South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) regional chairman Mbewana Matomane said taxi fare prices would increase on August 1.

“We still have to sit and decide on the amounts which will be communicated soon to commuters,” he said.

VIA - heraldlive.co.za