SPTC-One-day R6 fare effective next year |20 December 2005

Announcing this new one-day fare in his Budget address in November, President James Michel said it would benefit commuters who have to change buses to reach their destination and are required to pay a new ticket at each change.

Giving further details about the one-day ticket fare, the managing director of SPTC, Daniel Gappy, said commuters have the choice of buying the R6 coupon, which consists of six trips, and those who are using electronic Smart cards will have to convert them into a R6 day-fare card.

Mr Gappy explained that the one-day R6 fare will, for instance, benefit people living in the south who are working in the north, and vice-versa, and have to take two buses to get to work and return home in the evening.

"Instead of paying R12 for four trips, they can now pay only R6," he explained.

"In between if they want to go and visit a relative at the hospital for example or come to town for their shopping, they can do so because the coupons allow them an extra two trips," he said.

Mr Gappy explained that when using the coupons, the passengers have to tear off the tabs indicating the year, month, day and trip used. This must be done in front of the driver and on each trip.

The coupon, Mr Gappy said, is valid for one day only, from 6.00 a.m. to 8.00 p.m., and once the tabs have been torn off, it cannot be used the next day. A passenger is free to buy the coupons in advance.

He said passengers using the Smart cards (Stored value and Monthly) could convert them into a R6 day-fare card, after they have finished using all the trips previously stored.

"Passengers have to come to our card office where their Smart cards will be converted and they will get their first six trips stored. Each time they board the bus, the trips will be deducted," Mr Gappy said.

The six trips stored on the cards will also be valid for one day.
He however said passengers would not be able to top up their cards in advance with the number of trips they wish.

"They will have to top up their cards for each day they use it," he said.

This, he said, could be done when passengers are boarding the bus, whereby they will give the driver the R6 and he would ensure that the day's six trips are stored on the card.

Mr Gappy said that the majority of its buses are now equipped with electronic ticketing system and that 20% of SPTC ticket sales are from Smart cards.

He said the company is projecting an increase in the sales of Smart cards with the new one-day fare.

With regard to the President's announcement of free bus service for people with disability, Mr Gappy said SPTC would be liaising with relevant authorities such as the School for the Exceptional Child and the Council for the Disabled to get their names. They will be given cards for unlimited travelling on buses.

"Each time they board the bus they will have to swipe their cards and they will be issued with tickets. This will give us an idea about the frequency people with disability use our bus service," he said. The free bus service will also be extended to post-secondary students at the beginning of the school year.

As of next year, the pensioners will also be issued with the electronic cards. 
In addition to the one-day R6 fare and Smart cards, SPTC will continue to issue the single fare of R3.