Metrorail commuters experience delays due to planned strike action
Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula has assured passengers that contingencies are in place to ensure minimal disruptions.
Metrorail train. GroundUp archive photo: Ashraf Hendricks
The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) will reportedly continue to run a reduced service, similar to trains that run on weekends, as Metrorail employees embark on a planned strike today, reports IOL.
The United National Transport Union (Untu) has been granted permission to strike, demanding that measures be introduced to protect staff who have been attacked. They also demand an end to service breakdowns, which lead to delays.
Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula on Wednesday assured passengers that contingencies are in place to ensure minimal disruptions.
He also said that critical staff would not participate in the strike.
“There are no train drivers who are involved in the strike, that we need to be clear about … critical staff will not be taking part in the strike,” the minister said.
However, commuters should still brace themselves for potentially longer waiting times and delays.
Some commuters have already taken to Twitter, citing that Johannesburg’s Park Station is currently “a mess”.
Prasa strikes…people are stranded in this cold weather🙄🙄😰😫Park Station is a mess
— The Sneaker Fanatic (@ayandampofu2) July 26, 2019
Updates on the strike to follow as more information is made available.
Additional reporting by African News Agency (ANA)
(Compiled by Nica Schreuder)
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