UCV condemns PRASA fare increases as a direct attack on vulnerable communities
The United Commuters’ Voice (UCV) has strongly condemned the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) for its newly announced fare increases, calling them “a direct attack on the vulnerable community.”
PRASA announced the increases on July 16, with implementation set for August 1. Ticket prices will rise by up to R2.50 for single trips and over R100 for monthly tickets in some zones. UCV said the increases are unaffordable and disproportionately affect the poorest members of society who rely on trains as their primary mode of transport.
“These increases represent a severe financial burden on the poorest members of society, undermining the very constitutional mandate that PRASA was established to uphold,” said UCV in a statement.
The group said the fare hikes contradict agreements made during commuter consultations in 2023, where PRASA had committed to moderate increases aligned with inflation. “The approved increases discussed at the time reflected far more measured increases: R2.50–R3.50 for single trips and monthly fare increases capped at R44–R50 across zones,” UCV stated.
However, the new structure far exceeds those limits. “Zone 1 monthly fare jumps from R142 to R240, Zone 2 increases from R190 to R300, and Zone 3 increases from R260 to R350,” UCV said, describing the 58% increase for Zone 1 as extreme.
UCV also questioned PRASA’s justification that the increase is necessary to fund maintenance, energy, and safety improvements. “This rationale cannot override socio-economic rights and ignores the broader context of state budget allocations and the ongoing failure to deliver consistent, safe, and reliable services,” the statement read.
Commuters, UCV said, continue to endure poor service, including delays, overcrowding, and broken infrastructure. “While the press statement claims that ‘fares remain the most affordable across all transport modes,’ it ignores the compounded impact of rising electricity, food, and fuel prices,” UCV said.
The organisation has called on the Minister of Transport to immediately suspend the fare increase, engage with commuter groups, and review alternative funding models. “If these demands are not met, UCV will explore legal action and mass mobilization to resist this unaffordable, unjust fare hike,” the statement concluded.