adminChronicle Reporter
COWDRAY Park residents and commuter omnibus operators are headed for a showdown after operators ignored the residents’ ultimatum for them to reduce fares.Kombi operators are charging up to R7 for a trip to the city centre from the suburb, up from the normal R5.
In an interview, councillor for the area, Mr Collet Ndhlovu, said the residents would meet today and deal with errant operators while the operators have threatened to call in the police to arrest anyone who tried to stop them from operating.
“We have realised that some operators have heeded our warning. However, there are quite a number who are still defiant. Tomorrow, we want to stop the defiant operators from servicing the suburb. People should not profiteer from overcharging poor residents,” said Clr Ndhlovu.
He said community leaders were negotiating with Zupco to provide at least four buses to service the area.
“If they insist on this madness, then we shall have to stop working with them. We are also inviting local business people who are interested in offering buses to work in the suburb to come forward. As a suburb, we have said no to exploitation,” said Clr Ndhlovu.
A number of residents have resorted to avoiding travelling during peak hours because that is when commuter omnibuses increase fares.
“Some of us now avoid travelling during peak hours. This is daylight robbery. I am happy that people in the suburb have united to take a stand. We must stop greedy kombi owners from milking us,” said a woman from the suburb.
However, a kombi owner who plies the route, said what residents were proposing to do was illegal.
“They can get arrested if they try to stop us. We have route permits and all the lawful requirements to operate in Cowdray Park. The best they can do is to stop boarding kombis if they feel they are being treated unfairly. They should note that the furthest distance we travel in Cowdray Park is about 25 kilometres, compared with about 12 kilometres in suburbs like Luveve,” said the kombi owner.
He said transporters in the suburb were prepared to call in the police to protect their rights if residents decided to take the law into their own hands.
Asked why fares were being increased only during peak hours, the operator said it was the only option because demand for transport would be high.
“Residents cannot sustain an outright increase. We have to strike a balance. Operating costs keep escalating. We then try to get the most when there would be many people seeking transport,” said the operator.
Online Reporter