– The DA wants any Makhado Bus Service fare increase to be open, fair and properly consulted on and restricted to CPI.
– Commuters were initially faced with a reported proposed increase from about R350 to R600 on the Maelula–Murunwa route – a 71.4% increase.
– Because the service is publicly subsidised, passengers deserve clear answers on how fares are set and approved.
The Democratic Alliance in Limpopo calls on Makhado Bus Service and will write to the the Limpopo Department of Transport and Community Safety (DTCS) to ensure that any proposed increases in bus fares for routes in the Vhembe District are implemented in an open, transparent and consultative manner, with proper consideration for the impact on commuters, and restricted to adjustments for inflation.
This follows the DA being approached by the Great North Transport Passengers Forum, which alerted us to possible fare increases by Makhado Bus Service, reportedly due to take effect from 1 October 2026.
At the time the DA was alerted, the Forum expressed alarm at a proposed 71.4% increase on the Maelula–Murunwa Village route, where the monthly fare was reportedly set to increase from approximately R350 to R600.
In the interim, the Forum has advised us that a tentative agreement has been reached between the Chairperson of Makhado Bus Service and the Forum to limit increases to 7.5%. However, this agreement has not yet been finalised.
The service is relied on by ordinary commuters, including workers, the unemployed, and low-income households who depend on subsidised public transport to travel between rural communities, towns and places of work. Any unreasonable and excessive fare increases would place an additional burden on passengers who are already under financial pressure.
Makhado Bus Service is a contracted Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) comprising various bus operators, including Great North Transport (GNT), and provides subsidised public bus services in the Vhembe District.
These services form part of the provincial subsidised bus system administered by the Limpopo Department of Transport and Community Safety. The Department has confirmed that its subsidised bus contracts are intended to reduce the financial burden on commuters, with government paying a substantial portion of operators’ costs so that passengers can pay more affordable fares. For the 2026/27 financial year, R954.1 million was allocated to subsidised bus services in Limpopo.
Because this is a publicly subsidised service, passengers are entitled to know how any proposed fare increase was calculated, who approved it, how the public subsidy was taken into account, and whether the applicable contractual and consultation requirements were followed.