Golden Arrow Bus Service (GABS) commuters have vented their concerns about having to reach deeper into their pockets, following the announcement that fares would increase by an average of 7% from next month.
The decision was made public on Monday, with information on the new prices for the various routes across the metro. New pricing will take effect from 1 April 2024.
READ MORE: Fuel prices for April a mixed bag, says AA
Smile 90.4 FM took to the streets and spoke to commuters at the Cape Town Bus Terminal. Jeremy Hendricks, an unemployed father of 2 says he occasionally travels from Bonteheuwel to the CBD. This is what he said when he heard the news of the fare hike.
“Yoh! Again? It (prices) just went up recently. I am one of the people who are unemployed as well, and…it is hectic. It’s not a good thing, not currently with everything else being so expensive,” said the shocked Bonteheuwel resident.
Another bus passenger, Meaghan Damonze travels daily from Athlone to the CBD. She says she understands that fares increase due to fuel price hikes, but adds she fails to understand why fares do not decrease when fuel prices come down. She says she empathizes with her colleagues who have to travel much further to get to work.
“The cost of living is already so expensive. People need to get to work. Right now, the train is the cheapest, but that is not consistent, especially with low-income families; those that only have one job within the household. It’s very tough, because travelling is very expensive,” said an aggrieved Damonze.
In a statement, the bus company said its interim operating contract with the provincial government makes provision for adjustments to fares to offset operational cost increases.
“We remain acutely aware of the difficult economic climate in which our passengers find themselves and therefore took the unprecedented decision to delay our standard end-of-year increase which should have taken place in December 2023. Unfortunately, we are no longer able to absorb rising costs across our supply chain and must therefore increase fares by an average of 7% on 1 April 2024,” said Golden Arrow General Manager Derick Meyer.
