Tshwane Bus Services crippled by fuel shortages as city slashes shifts

The City of Tshwane is urging commuters to find alternative transport following reports of fuel shortages affecting municipal-owned buses. The Tshwane Bus Service (TBS) has been significantly impacted, with all three of its depots running dangerously low on fuel.

While the national government insists there is sufficient fuel for the next three to four months, several petrol stations and depots are already reportedly running dry.

Speaking at a media briefing in Mamelodi on Tuesday, Mayor Nasiphi Moya emphasised that bus operators have been severely affected. Under normal conditions, the TBS operates 155 daily shifts; however, the City has been forced to reduce these to just 65 due to the shortage.

The City warned that there is a distinct possibility that all buses will be forced to stop operating entirely, as fuel reserves are anticipated to run out at any moment.

Mayor Moya stated that while plans are being developed to mitigate the crisis, there is no clear indication of when operations will return to normal.

She suggested a return to pandemic-era flexibility to ease the pressure on the transport system.

"The nation must consider the approach we took during the Covid [lockdown], where people work from home," Moya said. "Internally, we are prioritising key service delivery departments. For instance, the electricity guys must not suffer. They must be able to visit houses to fix what’s broken. The same goes for water and the TMPD."

Despite the local crisis, the national government maintains there is no fuel shortage. Officials noted that South Africa receives the bulk of its crude oil from West African countries, suggesting that supply chains remain intact.