Golden Arrow Bus Services to raise fares from next Monday
Image: Ayanda Ndamane/Independent Newspapers
Commuters will have to fork out more as Golden Arrow Bus Services has announced a fare increase from next Monday.
While most weekly tickets have stayed under R250, most monthly fares have hit the R1 000 mark.
Golden Arrow spokesperson, Bronwen Dyke-Beyer said it remains mindful of the financial challenges faced by passengers.
'In recent years, we have made a concerted effort to delay annual fare increases beyond the customary December period. For example, instead of implementing a fare increase in December 2023, we absorbed the rising costs until April 2024, and we again deferred the December 2024 increase.'
Dyke-Beyer added that the interim contract the bus service had with the Western Cape Government provides for fare adjustments to rising operational costs.
Dyke-Beyer explained: 'However, due to continued and widespread increases in operating costs across the supply chain, we are no longer able to delay further. As a result, fares will increase by an average of 4 percent, effective August 11, 2025.
She said this increase is essential to maintain Golden Arrow's sustainability and continuity of its services.
Passengers have been urged to make use of the Gold Card, which enables them to access discounted fare options.
For a full list of revised fares, members of the public are urged to contact the Transport Information Centre at 0800 65 64 63.
The new Prasa fares that came into effect on Friday
Image: Prasa
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
8 hours ago
- IOL News
Ramaphosa says South Africa will engage US over new tariffs as trade challenges loom
President Cyril Ramaphosa reiterated that South Africa's trade relations with the US have historically been complementary in nature. Image: Itumeleng English / Independent Newspapers Banele Ginidza President Cyril Ramaphosa has underscored the country's commitment to maintaining market access in the face of the United States' recent decision to impose a 30% tariff on South African imports. This significant shift in trade policy highlights the urgency for South Africa to navigate increasingly turbulent international trade waters and adapt its export strategies. In his latest newsletter on Monday, Ramaphosa articulated a dual approach: not only will the government engage with the US to ensure mutually beneficial trade relations, but it will also accelerate the diversification of its export markets by boosting intra-African trade. Recognising the US as South Africa's third-largest trading partner, Ramaphosa acknowledged the measure's potential to disrupt industries heavily dependent on exports to the US, thereby affecting thousands of jobs and the country's fiscal stability. "Our foremost priority is protecting our export industries. As government, we have been engaging the United States to enhance mutually beneficial trade and investment relations. All channels of communication remain open to engage with the US," Ramaphosa said. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Last month, US President Donald Trump said the sweeping tariffs will apply to 'any and all South African products sent into the United States,' and were being imposed outside of any sectoral trade deals. In a letter dated July 7, Trump said the move was 'necessary to correct the many years of South Africa's Tariff, and Non Tariff, Policies and Trade Barriers,' blaming Pretoria for what he called 'unsustainable Trade Deficits against the United States.' However, Ramaphosa reiterated that South Africa's trade relations with the US have historically been complementary in nature. He said South African exports did not compete with US producers and did not pose a threat to US industry. "Largely, our exports are inputs into US industries and therefore support the United States' industrial base. South Africa is also the biggest investor from the African continent into the US, with 22 of our companies investing in a number of sectors including, mining, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and the food chain," he said. "South African imports ultimately benefit US consumers in terms of both choice and cost. By way of example, citrus production is counter-seasonal and does not pose a threat to US production. "Furthermore, production by US companies has been on the decline for a number of years as yhe US sector grapples with low yields, citrus greening disease, and other factors unrelated to competition from imports. Imports from South Africa, the world's second largest citrus exporter, have filled a gap and contributed to stable supply and prices for US consumers."
IOL News
12 hours ago
- IOL News
Ramokgopa to visit Medupi and Matimba Power Stations as Eskom reports progress
Eskom's power system stabilises, ensuring reliable electricity supply. Image: Timothy Barnard /Independent Newspapers Electricity and Energy Minister, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, will visit Medupi and Matimba Power Stations, Eskom said on Monday. The power utility said the visit formed part of the continued oversight on Eskom's Generation Recovery Plan, with a focus on improving the reliability and performance of its power plants to end load shedding and ensure a more stable electricity supply. "This is to celebrate the early return to service of Unit 4, now contributing 800MW of capacity to the national grid, reinforcing the goals of the Generation Recovery Plan and offer the minister an opportunity to receive an update on the Control and Instrumentation refurbishment project at Matimba," Eskom Spokesperson, Daphne Mokwena said. Ramokgopa is expected to give South Africans an update on power system status, operational improvements, and the Generation Recovery Plan, and to also engage the Generation Group Executive. Ramokgopa is expected to provide another update on power system performance on Friday; however, the utility has committed to communicate any unplanned developments before. This comes at the back of the utility making strides in stabilising its power system with an improved Energy Availability Factor (EAF), ensuring reliability during peak electricity demand. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading South Africa has been spared of load shedding since May 15, Business Report recently reported that Eskom's generation fleet is steering towards greater stability, with 57% of its 14 coal-fired power stations now functioning at an EAF exceeding 70%, with three stations having surpassed a 90% operational efficiency. This is a great move towards relieving South Africans of their long struggle with load shedding, which has often been associated with a lot of undesired conditions, i.e, crime, damage to household appliances, and business failures. The utility's winter outlook, as published in May, indicated that load shedding will not be necessary as long as unplanned outages stay under 13,000 MW. According to the power utility, load shedding gets implemented as a last resort to prevent a total collapse of the power grid. The Star
IOL News
14 hours ago
- IOL News
Why fewer young South Africans in the workforce won't solve the youth unemployment crisis
In many sectors, particularly construction, infrastructure, and logistics, demand for specialised, high-risk or niche skills far outpaces local availability. Image: Henk Kruger/Independent Newspapers Despite the number of young people aged 15 to 24 joining the labour market being expected to decrease over the next decade, structural barriers such as a lack of skills among young South Africans, limited job creation, and slow economic growth continue to impede progress. As a result, a shrinking youth population does not automatically translate into improved youth unemployment rates or ease the pressures on the economy and society. According to Statistics South Africa's 2025 mid-year population estimates, the country's total population stands at 63.1 million. Population growth has stabilised at around 1.23% annually, below pre-pandemic levels, driven by declining mortality and a rebound in positive net migration following COVID-19, the agency's figures show. According to the latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) it shows that 41.7 million South Africans are currently of working age. The working-age population, defined as those aged 15 to 64, grew by about 1% between mid-2024 and mid-2025, adding roughly 400,000 individuals, based on data from Statistics South Africa and the OECD. Young people aged 15 to 34 make up about half of this group. Within this segment, those aged 15 to 24 face the highest barriers to employment, with unemployment rates far exceeding those of older youth. Over the past decade, youth unemployment has climbed sharply, from 36.9% in early 2015 to 46.1% in 2025, according to the QLFS. 'Youth unemployment remains one of South Africa's most pressing challenges,' Statistics South Africa has said. While these labour market pressures mount, South Africa's demographic profile is shifting. Statistics South Africa's mid-year population estimates show that about 82% of the population is Black African, around 8% identify as coloured, 7% as white, and 3% as Indian or Asian. Women slightly outnumber men, making up 51% of the total population. At the same time, the number of young people entering the workforce is falling. Statistics South Africa's data shows that the number of children aged 0 to 14 has declined by 4.6% in a single year, dropping from roughly 17.3 million in 2024 to 16.5 million in 2025. This trend aligns with a continuing drop in South Africa's crude birth rate, now at 17.8 births per 1,000 people in 2025. Statistics South Africa further reports that improvements in infant and child survival rates have partially offset these declines. Infant mortality has dropped from 61.9 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2002 to 23.1 in 2025, and the under-five mortality rate has fallen similarly. Yet, total fertility has steadily declined from 2.78 children per woman in 2008 to 2.21 in 2025, meaning that future cohorts of working-age youth will continue to shrink. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Children under the age of 15 make up about 26,2% of South Africa's population — an estimated 16,5 million people. Meanwhile, around 10,5% of the population, or 6,6 million people, are aged 60 and older. Image: Stats SA Taken in combination, although there are fewer young people entering the workforce, which could reduce the total number of unemployed youth, it does not guarantee a drop in youth unemployment rates or resolve structural employment issues. Persistent challenges such as mismatched skills, limited job opportunities, and economic stagnation continue to block young people's access to employment. Moreover, slower growth in the working-age population will place greater pressure on economic growth and productivity. Based on Statistics South Africa's data, we can surmise that, with an ageing population, a shrinking youth base means fewer people will contribute to the labour market, while an increasing share of elderly dependents will require support. Provincially, Statistics South Africa shows that Gauteng remains the most populous province, housing about 25.5% of the national population, followed by KwaZulu-Natal. Limpopo and the Eastern Cape have the highest proportions of children under 15, respectively, while the Northern Cape has the smallest share of the population. Fewer young South Africans entering the workforce should not be mistaken for an easing of youth employment challenges. As Statistics South Africa's data make clear, the structural barriers remain and may be exacerbated by demographic shifts. Policymakers must prioritise sustainable economic opportunities and inclusive labour market interventions to secure a prosperous future for the country's youth. IOL
