Lobamba – Government has been challenged to consider establishing a state-run public transport system to ease the financial burden on commuters following the adoption of a 25% bus fare increase by the Senate.
Senator Lorraine Nxumalo made the proposal during the House of Senate sitting on October 12, 2026, chaired by Deputy President Ndumiso Mdluli. She argued that a government-operated transport system could help reduce the cost of long-distance travel for emaSwati who are already struggling with rising living expenses.
Nxumalo also questioned whether transport workers were actually receiving the 24% wage increase previously awarded to them. She called for clarity on the implementation of the wage adjustment, raising concerns about whether the benefits intended for workers were reaching them.
Her proposal presents state-run transport as a possible long-term response to recurring pressure to increase public transport fares. The Senate debate highlighted the challenge of balancing rising operating costs faced by transport operators against the limited financial capacity of commuters.
Senator Princess Ncengencenge cautioned that short-distance fares could eventually reach E40 if the underlying challenges were not addressed. She said salaries remained stagnant while fuel prices continued to rise, arguing that repeated fare adjustments would not provide a lasting solution.
Ncengencenge called for a comprehensive long-term strategy instead of addressing transport costs through piecemeal increases. She also raised concerns about the possibility of service disruptions, citing the risk of a repeat of the transport shutdowns experienced during the 2021 unrest.
Meanwhile, Senator Dr Stukie Motsa moved for the adoption of the 25% fare increase motion under Section 253(3) of the Constitution. In supporting the adjustment, she pointed to a 59% increase in fuel costs since the last fare adjustment in 2022, alongside rising prices of tyres and spare parts.
Motsa also referred to the role of the Wages Council in overseeing workers’ welfare, highlighting the need to consider transport employees’ working conditions and benefits when determining fares.
Senator Princess Ntfombiyenkhosi supported a regulated fare adjustment accompanied by measures to cushion commuters against its impact. She noted that transport workers had sought fare increases of up to 100%, citing stagnating benefits and the rising cost of living, while emphasising the need for a compromise.
The Senate subsequently adopted the motion to debate and adopt the Maximum Bus and Taxi Fares (Amendment) Regulations, 2022, paving the way for the 25% adjustment.
The debate has placed renewed attention on the need for a sustainable public transport policy that considers commuters’ ability to pay, operators’ expenses and workers’ welfare. Nxumalo’s proposal for government-run transport offers one option for consideration as the country grapples with rising transport costs.
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