City council apologises for Rea Vaya strike
JOBURG - JOBURG - City of Johannesburg apologises to passengers for the Rea Vaya bus strike.
Photo by Rashad Mia
The Rea Vaya bus service is still non-operational due to an ongoing strike by bus drivers employed by Piotrans, Rea Vaya’s operating company.
According to Benny Makgoga, director of City of Joburg service promotions, city council officials have received a briefing from Piotrans and Ditsamaiso management which employs the Rea Vaya bus drivers. “Unfortunately there will be no service until further notice,” he said.
He added that the city council was also talking to Absa about the process to refund passengers who have loaded funds onto their smart cards.
Makgoga said, “As the city, we want to apologise to the commuters for the inconvenience caused by this unfortunate action by the drivers. “We would also like to advise the commuters who loaded money on their smart cards to use them as debit cards for purchases in retail stores. “They can be used to buy groceries. As a result of the disruption of Rea Vaya services, the city apologises to passengers for the inconvenience caused and advises passengers to use alternative transport.”
He stated that demands by the strikers had not yet been presented to the city council by Piotrans. “We are told that operators [Piotrans] will have a hearing with drivers on Monday and Tuesday,” Makgoga said.
