Rea Vaya driver strike hits commuters
JOBURG - Rea Vaya bus drivers have downed tools which will leave hordes of commuters stranded on 31 March.
According to the City of Johannesburg, indefinite disruptions in services were expected from 31 March.
The city council said attempts by Piotrans Bus Operating Company, the company that manages the Rea Vaya buses, to avert the strike had failed.
Dumisani Mntambo, head of strategy and transformation at Piotrans said operations of all Rea Vaya buses had ceased and the buses remained at the depots.
There was currently no indication of when the strike would end and commuters were advised to arrange alternative transport to get home on 31 March and thereafter until further notice, Mntambo said.
Piotrans was continuing its effort to resolve the strike.
Mntambo said that negotiations with the bus drivers had begun on 30 March and agreements were reached.
However, he said employees were expected to meet with their unions at 2pm on 31 March regarding the agreements reached, after which they would revert to Piotrans with the outcome.
He did not comment on the drivers’ grievances and the reasons for the strike.
The city council apologised to passengers for the inconvenience and assured them that regular feedback about the status of services would be communicated via the Rea Vaya website and social media.
