Putco Bus
Picture credit: Via X by user @tndaba
Masego Mosipa
(The Post News) – Putco, a company known not only for its labor disputes but also for its involvement in several accidents, has once again captured public attention. On March 27, 2024, a Putco bus traveling to Centurion became engulfed in flames, marking yet another alarming incident. Disturbing footage of the inferno spread rapidly across social media platforms, depicting passengers desperately scrambling to escape the blaze. Thankfully, there were no reported fatalities, although 22 individuals sustained injuries.
Bus commuter services play a crucial role in South Africa’s public transport industry, serving as the second most utilised mode of transportation after taxis. Every day, countless individuals rely on these services to commute to work and travel long distances across the country.
Established in 1945, the Public Utility Transport Corporation (Putco) operates bus commuter services in Limpopo, parts of Mpumalanga, and Gauteng. Despite its extensive experience in the industry, Putco has faced challenges in maintaining high standards and proving itself as a reliable service provider.
In recent years, Putco has garnered negative attention due to various issues. Last year, its workers went on strike over unpaid wages, a dispute that continued throughout 2023. Early in 2024, the company made headlines again when it suspended workers for alleged misconduct, sparking criticism from the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA), which called for a boycott of the company, citing inhumane treatment of its workers.
As of now, Putco has not issued any statements regarding the incident, leaving many questions unanswered.
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