LOUIS TRICHARDT – Frustrated commuters of Maila, Nthabalala and Vleifontein areas, handed a petition to the Makhado Municipality last Wednesday, in regard to the poor service rendered by GM Phadziri Bus Services in their area.

About 98% of the people in Vleifontein, Maila and Nthabalala use the Phadziri Bus Services, but their main concern is that the "service rendered by the Bus Service is not worth the money they were paying on a monthly basis." They revealed that this has been an ongoing process since the Bus Service received its operating license in 1985.

They also complained about the condition of the buses, stating that they are not always roadworthy, and that they arrive late at the bus terminus. In addition, commuters also complain of the late arrival of the buses at their destination. This late arrival inconveniences the commuters in that most of them arrive late at their work places.

Mr Alpheus Machete of the Vleifontein, Maila and Nthabalala Commuters Committee, indicated that many workers have been laid off by their employers for constant late arrival at work. "Clearly many workers lost their jobs not because of their fault but because of the Bus Service's incompetence." He added that the company brought old and unroadworthy buses to their areas to ferry commuters.