​By Staff writer
PUTCO bus service resumed operations on Friday, 05 May 2023 providing much needed relief to thousands of commuters in Gauteng, Mpumalanga, and Limpopo. 
This after Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi and MEC Kedibone Diale-Tlabela met with senior executives of the bus company on Thursday, 04 May 2023 to avert further service disruptions. 
On Wednesday, 3 May 2023, the bus company issued a notice suspending its services due to diesel shortages, citing unpaid March subsidy by the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport.
Expressing his deep concern about the impact of service disruptions on commuters, Premier Lesufi noted his gratitude on the agreement reached. 
"I am pleased that we have come to an agreement and that concerns raised by bus operators will be addressed to ensure that our residents continue to have access to a safe, reliable, and affordable public transport service. We appreciate the bus company coming onboard to resolve the issues and profusely apologize to commuters for the inconvenience caused. We would like to assure commuters that bus services will be running as usual from tomorrow morning". 
He added the provincial government "understand(s) the frustration of the commuters as this is the first time in 76 years that they find themselves in this situation. As such, we are working on concluding long term agreements on bus contracts to ensure uninterrupted bus services". He further added that parties are working "on improving and strengthening our dispute resolution mechanisms to avoid decisions that negatively impact the commuters. I would like to urge bus service providers to improve their services and procure new fleet that will ensure great commuter experience". 
MEC Diale-Tlabela indicated the Department has been engaging with various public transport operators and commuter organizations to ensure the new contracts are in line with the expectations and cater for the needs of commuters. 
"We will continue to engage with service providers in line with the policies to ensure that commuters do not continue to bear the brunt of unreliable bus services" she added. 
PUTCO Managing Director Franco Pisapia said "we are happy to announce the resumption of services from Friday morning, 05 May 2023. We wish to apologise to our passengers for the inconvenience caused. Commuters who bought season tickets will be reimbursed via discounts/validity periods."
The Department currently manages thirty-four (34) bus subsidy contracts awarded to thirteen (13) bus operators, PUTCO amongst them. Twenty-six of these are tendered contracts while the remainder (8) are interim contracts. These are funded by through the Public Transport Operating Grant (PTOG).