Bus commuters to be stranded
Commuters in Mbombela and surrounding areas stand to be affected by the nationwide bus strike that will start on Wednesday.
MBOMBELA – Bus drivers are demanding a 12 per cent increase, and say they will continue until their grievances are addressed.
Bus drivers will protest at their various work stations nationally.
According to Mr Solomon Mahlangu, a national sector coordinator from South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (SATAWU), bus drivers in Mbombela and surrounding areas have confirmed that they will take part in the strike.
“We decided to strike after we tried to negotiate with our employers and we realised that they are not willing. We asked for 12 per cent increase and they are offering us seven per cent. The working conditions that the drivers are exposed to are not good. According to the law they are supposed to work eight hours. However they work 14 hours.
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“Their allowance for sleeping outside is R561. With this money they are supposed to pay for accommodation and buy food. That is not possible. How they can expect one to drive long distance and still sleep in a bus?”
Mahlangu says that all the commuters must understand that the bus drivers are not trying to punish them.
“We tried our best to get the employers to meet us, but we failed and we have also submitted our case to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA).
“We are willing to negotiate, as long as it is more than seven per cent,” he explained.
By the time we published the article Mr Vian Ndlovu had not responded to our enquiry.
