Gauteng commuter bus operators have received some outstanding subsidy payments but are still owed a substantial amount, their association said on Monday. ”All of them got payments from the Gauteng transport department at the weekend but not all were payments in full,” said South African Bus Operators’ Association executive manager Eric Cornelius.
Allegations that the Gauteng Transport Department (Gautrans) owed commuter bus operators payments as far back as June 2007, were untrue, the department said on Thursday. ”Hence, the department strongly condemns any attempts aimed at causing uncertainty and divisions within the bus industry.”
The non-payment of subsidies by the Gauteng transport department to bus operators could cost thousands of employees their jobs and affect 300 000 commuters, trade union Solidarity said on Wednesday. In a statement, the union said the jobs of approximately 2 000 employees may be threatened.