Buses are ‘coffins on wheels’

TAXI associations in the Phokwane district are expected to prevent any buses from travelling out of Pampierstad today.

A community march is also scheduled to proceed to the Phumatra bus depot in Pampierstad, following concerns over the safety of commuters, with passengers believing that they are being transported in “dangerous coffins”.

Commuters stated that Phumatra Transport Enterprises, which provides transport to 16 villages around Pampierstad as well as to rural scholars, was unreliable.

“The buses are always late or break down en route to our destinations and we are forced to make use of taxis instead,” they said.

The spokesperson for the Socialist Revolutionary Workers Party in the Northern Cape, Thapelo Thole, said that the Phumatra buses were unroadworthy and were regularly involved in accidents.

"The lives of commuters travelling to work and school in the Northern Cape and North West are put in danger every day,” said Thole.

"The Phumatra buses were recently involved in a big accident while travelling to Hartswater. The driver of a bus lost control of the vehicle near Pampierstad last month. These vehicles should be removed from the road.

“A few months ago, passengers who were travelling in a Phumatra bus from Pampierstad to Hartswater were injured and most killed.”

Thole urged the traffic police in the Northern Cape and the North West to conduct random checks on Phumatra buses.

“I believe that the majority of vehicles will not pass vehicle fitness tests because they have worn tyres, poor brakes and faulty steering wheel racks. Some do not have permits or have permits that have expired. A bus with faulty brakes or worn tyres is a potential coffin on wheels.”

He indicated that bus drivers were being dismissed, where they were held responsible for faulty vehicles that were involved in accidents.

"It appears as if damaged buses that are not serviced regularly are sent to the Northern Cape while other provinces like Gauteng are supplied with new buses."

The transport manager of the Phumatra Pampierstad depot, Edwin Kgoro, insisted that there were no complaints made regarding the provision of services.

“There were no grievances laid against Phumatra.”