EWN reports that Cape Town bus service Golden Arrow is set to implement an interim fare increase of 8%. The across-the-board increase will come into effect from next Monday.

The bus service said that due to increased diesel costs of 81% in the past 18 months, it was forced to implement fare hikes. Spokesperson Bronwen Dyke-Beyer explained: “Where possible, Golden Arrow only implements one increase per year. However, we now find ourselves in a very difficult position of having to find a balance of what is affordable for our passengers and what is needed to compensate for what is unrelenting cost increases across our operations.” She cautioned that further increases might become necessary as the year progressed. "Considering the kind of global unrest and the accompanying economic effects, it’s clear that the South African economy is going to continue to find itself in a very difficult position and current projection predicted fuel prices will continue to soar. This has knock-on effects across our supply chain," Dyke-Beyer stated.

• Read the original of the short report in the above regard by Kevin Brandt at EWN

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