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Pretoria - Commuters in Mamelodi say government must bring back Putco so that life can return to normal.
"Government should just give Putco what it wants and Putco must come back so that we can continue as we have been before," said Khoni Mahlangu.
"It's this city buses that taxi owners don't want. We can't afford to use taxis, they are very expensive."
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Commuters have been left stranded for a third day in a row as taxi owners continue their relentless fight against the implementation of Autopax bus service in the township.
They claim government promised them the route once the contract with Putco ended. They say they must be subsidised and they will transport commuters.
As anger boils and commuters are left stranded, taxi operators said in the long run their actions will benefit the community.
"We are going to speak to the community to show them that what we are fighting for is not for us but for them. The subsidy that is going to come is theirs," a taxi operator said. "Today they might say they are not going to work because we are being selfish but once all the dust has settled, they will reap the rewards."
The taxi owner said they are not fighting with their passengers, they just don't want a company they have no knowledge about operating in their area. He added they would try to meet the commuters half way regarding fares.
"Right now they are complaining about having to pay twice so we will look at the possibility of charging them a reduced fare and run at a loss unlike for someone to come in here. We would rather run at a loss and transport our people than allow some company to take food out of our mouth," he added.
The owner promised that things will be better on Monday.
Buses under police guard in Mamelodi. (Supplied, News24 Correspondent).
