PUTCO reports challenges in addressing the increasing use of counterfeit tickets by bus passengers. The company suggests that either commuters are being defrauded or the perpetrators themselves are using these false tickets.
The bus company estimates daily losses amounting to thousands of rand due to the high volume of fraudulent tickets identified by inspectors.
The Public Utility Transport Corporation (PUTCO), a subsidiary of The Larimar Group, provides commuter bus services in Gauteng, Limpopo, and the western regions of Mpumalanga in South Africa.
PUTCO’s spokesperson, Lindokuhle Xulu, stated that the company is preparing to implement the SmartTap ticketing system.
During a media engagement session Xulu provided details about the new SmartTap electronic system.
Xulu explained that Putco is complying with the government’s vision of challenging transport service providers to adopt digital electronic systems.
In his presentation of the new system, Xulu highlighted that the SmartTap electronic system will simplify commuters’ lives compared to the current paper-based system.
With the new system, customers will have the benefit of extended trip validity in case they miss one of their scheduled trips
