Golden Arrow will increase its bus fares by 6.95% at the end of this month.
PHOTO: Brenton Geach, Gallo pictures
- The Golden Arrow bus company will increase fares again.
- For December 27, travelers can expect an increase of 6.95%.
- There will be no increase in fares for taxi travelers.
Cape Town bus passengers will be hit again after Golden Arrow announced a 6.95% increase in ticket prices.
This is the second time this year that the company has raised its rates.
In order for the company to offset the effects of increases in operating costs throughout the year, the Golden Arrow Bus Service (GABS) said its interim operating contract with the provincial government provided for fare adjustments.
“Therefore, we will unfortunately be implementing a 6.95% average across the board increase on all cash and multi-ride products (formerly known as clip cards) on December 27, 2022. However, GABS Gold cards, a one-time purchase, they will stay at R35,” Meyer said.
In March this year, the bus company raised fares by 8%, sparking outrage from many passengers.
Meyer said the year was characterized by significant cost increases at all levels of Golden Arrow’s supply chain.
READ | ‘This will leave a huge hole in our pockets’: Cape Town bus passengers criticize Golden Arrow ticket surge
“Increases in the cost of diesel throughout the year, coupled with wage increases and unexpectedly high increases in components have made it impossible to avoid a rate increase at the end of 2022.”
The company said it had worked hard to identify and increase efficiencies across all operations and would continue to focus on exploiting all cost-saving opportunities.
News24 took to the streets to find out what people had to say about the rate increase.
Sirah Snez said that Golden Arrow was taking people for a ride.
“In the space of a year, my monthly ticket from Khayelitsha to Cape Town will cost me R957. These price increases are unreasonable. The fact is that most of us who use the bus service are on minimum wage, and these price increases take a large part of our monthly wages.
snez said:
I understand that the price of fuel has gone up during the year, but I really don’t think it’s equivalent to its price going up twice in one year.
Andrew Simson said the price increase was a “low blow” for loyal passengers.
“Golden Arrow chooses to announce the price increase on the day that diesel in the country decreased,” he said.
Wedaad Holtman took to Facebook to express concern about ticket prices, as well as his disgust about cockroaches on buses.
“[This is] Absolutely unfair as we have to make up for their losses during protests, but there is never a drop in rates when the price of gas drops. And one more thing, I am seriously ill if the cockroaches in the buses. Unpleasant!”
‘What can we really do about it?’
Golden Aroow advised Holtman to immediately report any bus with cockroaches so the company could arrange for emergency spraying.
Tamsyn-Lee Anthony, a Bay View resident, said another rate hike was bound to happen.
“Obviously I’m not happy about the increase because it certainly hit my pocketbook a lot more now, but this had to happen, especially as gas prices keep going up. The buyback rate is up three times this year, so what’s to stop The bus company raises the prices.
“It’s ridiculous, yes, but what can we do about it? Unfortunately, we have to accept it.”
Golden Arrow responded: “We remain acutely aware that our passengers are in the same difficult economic climate as we are. Therefore, we would like to reassure our passengers and stakeholders that this decision was not made lightly and that the amount of the increase is significantly less than what is required to actually offset the cost increases.
READ | Daylight robbery: Gunmen rob Golden Arrow bus passengers
Passengers can defer payment of increased fares until January 25 of the following year for 10-ride multi-ride products (which are valid for 30 days) purchased on December 26, and until March 26 for Multi-trip case of 48 product trips (valid for 90 days) purchased on the same date.
“To take full advantage of our product offering and access the greatest savings, we recommend that passengers purchase a GABS Gold Card and load weekly or monthly products, instead of paying cash. Weekly and monthly products are sold at a discount of up to 45%,” Meyer added.
“Golden Arrow remains committed to providing our passengers with safe and reliable services, and despite the increase, bus travel remains a viable public transportation option.”
Meanwhile, the South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) said it would not increase its prices again this year.
“We will not increase our prices because we have already increased them in the middle of the year. In any case, we only adjust the prices of our rates once a year, so we have already done it for this year. There may be another rate increase just in the middle of next year,” spokeswoman Mandla Hermanus said.
