The Gauteng department of transport has until noon on Friday to pay around R300-million in outstanding subsidies to the province's bus operators, the Pretoria High Court ruled on Thursday.

The court ruled that outstanding subsidies for November 2008 be paid to the SA Bus Operators Association (Saboa). The application for payments for December, January, February and March would be heard next Wednesday.

The full amount outstanding to bus operators is around R1.2-billion.

Speaking outside the court, Saboa's executive manager Eric Cornelius said: "It's a great pity that one needed a court order to force government to honour its contractual obligations."

Should government not pay it would be in contempt of court.

"Well then it will definitely strengthen out case when we're back here next week," he said.

The urgent court application was backed by commuter and civic associations as well as the SA Transport and Allied Workers Union.