The City of Cape Town has urged commuters to make alternative transport arrangements for the next few days after MyCiti bus drivers went on a wildcat strike on Monday.
According to the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Transport and Urban Development, Councillor Brett Herron, some of the bus drivers who are employed by the vehicle operating companies (VOCs) operating the MyCiTi bus routes embarked on an illegal strike.
“Neither the VOCs nor the City of Cape Town were informed of the imminent strike and the reasons for the illegal stay-away.
“It is unclear for how long the illegal strike will continue, and when the MyCiTi service will be able to resume normal operations,” Herron said.
He said Hertzog Boulevard was closed to incoming traffic after the striking drivers gathered on the red bus lane outside the Civic Centre station, intimidating those bus drivers who were still fulfilling their duties.
Vehicular traffic and MyCiTi buses operating on the N2 Express routes from Mitchells Plain and Khayelitsha were diverted along other routes.
According to the Cape Argus, workers were complaining about their pay and poor working conditions.
Some said they do not have proper facilities and that the buses they drive are unsafe.
“We were told that Brett Herron is not available to meet us, but we are not moving until our demands are met,” driver Patrick Mabindisa said.
“We get paid peanuts. Some drivers get paid R72 an hour; I get paid R52 an hour. We have been subjected to poor and unsafe working conditions.”