Putco will now operate its bus service on Monday, March 20, despite an earlier decision not to run the buses during the EFF’s planned ‘National Shutdown’.
However, in a statement released today the passenger bus company said it will operate a normal service as far as possible on Monday.
“We assure our passengers and staff that we will monitor the situation closely and should it become unsafe, services will be suspended immediately”.
The decision to continue with its operations follows an urgent meeting between the Minister of Transport, her Deputy, senior government officials and the executives of the Southern Africa Bus Operators Association (SABOA) on Thursday afternoon, during which bus operators were urged to treat Monday as a normal business day and to provide public transport services as usual.
The Minister implored Putco and other bus companies to operate and assured them that sufficient security measures were in place for the safety of passengers, staff, and the general public during the planned National Shutdown.
Government provided the assurance that all efforts have been made to ensure that law and order will be maintained so that economic activities will not be affected on March 20.
Furthermore, President Cyril Ramaphosa also asserted to the media during a state visit by Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan at the Union Buildings yesterday that security forces would take measures to protect those who are not part of the protest action and want to go to work.