23 Jun 2013

Francistown combi drivers operating the Francistown-Blocks route want extension to the industrial area.

The combi drivers, who once had the route ending at industrial area, cry foul that since 2011 when the Department of Road Transport and Safety (DRTS) stopped them, their businesses have suffered severely.

Mr Tshenolo Nyangane, a combi operator lamented that their Blocks route has no money in the sense that after carrying passengers in the morning, they are forced to wait at the bus rank for three to four hours for their next trip.

He said this is a challenge because at the end of the day, they do not have enough money to cover their personal expenses and maintain their combis.

“Combis are in bad condition, we have to service them but we cannot because we do not have enough money,” said Mr Nyangane, adding that it is important for them to go to industrial area so that they can be profitable.

He said they cannot employ conductors because they cannot afford them, but that could change if the route could be extended to industrial area.

Mr Nyangane said they would like to be given a different route from that of taxis.

He added that going to industrial area will be better than sitting at the rank all day doing absolutely nothing.

Another combi operator, Mr Tuelo Morakanyane said sharing the same route with taxis is a challenge because people board taxis in the morning, as they go to the industrial area.

“We come to the rank with few people in the combi and then we are expected to stop here at the rank, having our route extended to industrial area could help because in that way we could carry many people and that could help earn enough money,” he said.

Mr Morakanyane also added that they cannot bank because of their ailing business. An employed combi driver, Mr Letlhogonolo Makgale also expressed his sadness lamenting that their route at the moment is not profitable.

“I give little cash to my employer every day and the owner will be suspecting that I am cheating him,” he said.

Mr Makgale also added that some combis have parked because petrol and oil cannot be afforded with the little cash they make each day.

A passenger, Mr Goitseone Bheza said that he uses a taxi every day when going to industrial area because it is faster though expensive.

He said he would love to have combis going to the area because they are cheaper than taxis.

Ms Bontle Sikwane, also a passenger who is a street vendor at industrial area, said that combis were helpful before they were stopped.

“I used to board a combi every day to this side because they never gave me problems,” she said.

Ms Sikwane added that taxis sometimes do not drop her at her destination, alleging that taxi men sometimes end their route at Spar Meriting leaving her struggling with her stock.

She also stressed that sometimes she has to use money again to get to industrial, which is a loss to her.

She also noted that taxi men are even selective in the evening as they only carry people who reside at Block 1 and 2, leaving other passengers stranded. Ends