Bus strike driving us crazy

Commuters nationwide were left stranded on Wednesday after bus drivers affiliated to the South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu), the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) and the Transport and Omnibus Workers’ Union (Towu) went on a national strike.

Drivers are demanding a minimum monthly salary of R8 000.

Today, the second day of the strike, unions and employers are expected to meet with the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) to try to resolve the wage

dispute.

VERY PATIENT: Mense queued for hours to get a minibus taxi to work. Picture Ayanda Ndamane/African News Agency/ANA

Numsa has “apologised profusely” to stranded commuters, saying it was “no picnic for bus drivers either”.

“We know it’s ordinary community members who are most affected. We would like for them to please understand that we’re not doing this out of choice... a strike for us is no picnic. As long as we’re not working, we’re not getting paid,” said acting Numsa spokesperson Phakamile Hlubi-Majola.

In Cape Town, Golden Arrow Bus Services and MyCiTi drivers stayed away, and thousands of commu-

ters started queueing at taxi ranks and train stations from 4am.

At Kapteinsklip station in Mitchells Plain, Asheeqa Saal, 32, from Tafelsig said she left home at 4.30am, but found the station packed.

EARLY RISERS: Lines were formed early in the morning in Philippi

“How does Golden Arrow not care about us? Now Metrorail is also pathetic with their delays and trains packed like sardines. The trains don’t even have windows and it’s raining,” she said.

Moosa Abrahams, 40, from Rocklands said he left home at 4am.

“I usually use the bus, but today I’m taking a train and I don’t care what time I’m getting to work. This is beyond my control,” the miserable man said.

“Golden Arrow must give the drivers what they want and stop being stingy because we pay a lot for our tickets.”

DETERMINED: Zulfa Britton, 32, and kids Laylah, 5, and Zarah, 8, waited hours in Mitchells Plain

Mom of two Zulfa Britton, 32, of Portlands, took a train in the morning but made use of an Uber taxi to get her girls Layla, 5, and Zarah, 8, home from Cape Town where they attend school.

“I cannot afford two trips for Uber so the trip home is better,” she said.

Golden Arrow spokesperson, Bronwen Dyke-

Beyer, said they hoped the strike will be called off soon.

“The CCMA will be facilitating a meeting between all the parties (today) so we are hopeful for a positive outcome,” she said.

SA Federation of Trade Unions’ (Saftu) acting spokesperson, Patrick Craven, said they supported the strike saying bus drivers worked “long and unsocial hours” with a high danger of accidents.

DEMANDS: Bus drivers insisting on increases

“Wages are already low, and now workers are having to pay more for goods and services following increases in VAT, fuel levy and the road accident levy, and Eskom is applying for another electricity tariff rise,” he said.

The City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Transport and Urban Development, Councillor Brett Herron, thanked the minibus-taxi industry for their assistance.

“If it was not for these operators, thousands of commuters would have been left stranded. I also welcome the assistance that is being provided by Metrorail by operating additional trips where they can - in particular on the Northern and Southern lines,” Herron said.

[email protected]