Pretoria - Autopax will resume its bus services in Mamelodi, Pretoria, next week, the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport said on Thursday.
“The bus operations were suspended in the area due to political instability, the unacceptable torching of 19 Autopax busses and safety considerations of commuters,” the department said.
The decision to resume public transport operations was taken after consultations with relevant stakeholders, including the Mamelodi Transport Commuters’ Forum, the Department of Roads and Transport, Autopax Management and the Department of Transport, as well as an assessment of the political climate in the area.
The buses, which will be available from Monday, will be running on a reduced service with 55 buses, as a result of the loss of 19 busses. Autopax said affected passengers will be provided with alternative shifts in the interim.
The full service is expected to be rolled out by October.
According to the department, Autopax has developed an operational plan to meet the needs of its commuters.
“Autopax Management has applied for an interim amendment of the Mamelodi contract timetable for the next three months.
“Autopax Management has had meetings with representatives of Mamelodi Transport Commuters’ Forum to address its concerns since the suspension of bus services and to secure its support for the normalisation of bus operations,” the department said.
The department has appealed to Mamelodi residents not to damage transport infrastructure and property.
The Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport entered into a contract with Autopax to render services to the commuters in affected areas of Mamelodi. This was after PUTCO decided not to extend eight contracts when these were scheduled for renewal in March 2015. – SAnews.gov.za
