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Commuter fare hike lays bare cracks in gov’t machinery

Friday, April 03, 2026 | 580 Views |

What was meant to be a routine policy adjustment has spiralled into a full-blown governance spectacle after President Duma Boko suspended a top Transport Ministry official for allegedly bypassing the Minister, in shock commuter fare increases that sparked protests on Wednesday.

In a stunning sequence of events, the abrupt gazetting of steep commuter fare hikes without ministerial approval has not only triggered public outrage but also revealed a breakdown in coordination at the highest levels of government.

President Duma Boko has now moved to contain the fallout, confirming that the Director of Transport Services, Bokhutlo Modukanele, will be suspended pending investigation, effectively taking the fall for a decision that blindsided both the minister and senior officials.

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