Gautrain fare increases exorbitant

19 May 2014

The new fare increases announced by Gautrain last week are exorbitant. The fare increase on a normal pay-as-you-go ticket will increase by 19,3% from 1 June 2014.

These increases are far above the current inflation rate of 6%. This is unacceptable, especially given the fact that the Gautrain service is heavily subsidised by the Gauteng provincial government.

Although two off-peak tariffs have been introduced, the higher of the two tariffs still increases by 8,8%. Although the DA welcomes the introduction of improved off-peak discounts, this should not hide the fact that normal fares will increase by more than three times the rate of inflation.

With the negative impact of the introduction of e-tolls on Gauteng motorists, providing affordable alternative public transport has become a crucial necessity for commuters.

One of the motivations provided for the introduction of e-tolls was to reduce the traffic volumes on the N1 between Pretoria and Johannesburg thus encouraging the use of public transport. Fare increases like these are counterproductive to this objective.

Gauteng consumers are already under financial pressure due to unemployment, the introduction of e-tolls, rises in living expenses and food prices as well as below inflation salary increases. This increase in transport costs contributes towards the impoverishment of Gauteng citizens and denies many access to economic opportunity.

I call on the MEC for roads and transport in Gauteng, Ismael Vadi, to step in and prevent such exorbitant Gautrain fare increases from being introduced.

Statement issued by Fred Nel, DA Gauteng Deputy Spokesperson on roads and transport, May 19 2014

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