Bus drivers in South Africa have gone on strike. The action will force commuters to use alternative means, such as taxis, for transport.
MyCiTi in Cape Town, Putco, Rea Vaya and Gautrain bus service in Gauteng and Algoa Bus Company in the Port Elizabeth area are among the bus companies affected by the work stoppage.
Others include Greyhound, Buscor and Mphakathi in Mpumalanga, Bojanala in the North West, Mayibuye in East London, Go George in George, Areyeng in Tshwane and Lowveld Bus Company in Limpopo.
The bus drivers are demanding better pay and working hours. The National union of metalworkers (NUMSA) of South Africa which has members in the bus sector said they had rejected a 7%increase and were demanding 12%.
Other demands include a subsistence allowance for drivers who do long distance travel, and are forced to sleep out.
“NUMSA wants to inform the public that the decision to embark on a strike was not taken lightly. In fact, we took this decision as a last resort,” said the union’s general secretary Irvin Jim.
He urged bosses to return to the negotiating table as soon as possible for a quick settlement.
The chairperson of the Central Unity Taxi Association now foresees a situation of an upsurge of taxi users
“Obviously our taxi ranks are going to be packed,” said Central Unity Taxi Association (CUTA) chairperson Ernest Stofile.
