The Tshwane municipality is trying very hard to keep its buses on the road, as well as ensuring the safety of both drivers and commuters, Mayor Cilliers Brink said on Thursday.
Brink was speaking while interacting with commuters on their way to Garsfontein from the CBD.
“Many of our residents depend on the city’s bus services to get to places of work, school, and business. So we will not suspend services, we will carry on and work with law enforcement to improve security,” the mayor said.
[WATCH] We fighting really hard to keep these Tshwane buses on the road to serve our residents who can’t afford high taxi fares. @CityTshwane pic.twitter.com/OBhHEmvBVO
— Mayor Cilliers Brink (@tshwane_mayor) October 26, 2023
Brinkwas delighted to have had an opportunity to ride with commuters and share the experience with them, pledging that as the metro, they would arrest all those who would dare to disrupt services.
“I have spoken with a few commuters who have told me how important our services to them were. They have also told me they have spent a fortune in the last three months.”
Many of our residents depend on the City’s bus service to get to places of work, school, and business. So we will not suspend services, we will carry on and work with law enforcement to improve security. @CityTshwane pic.twitter.com/MFDg3sCdM8
— Mayor Cilliers Brink (@tshwane_mayor) October 26, 2023
He said the conversation he had with passengers made him more determined to ensure the metro kept these services going.
Monica Mashoga, a commuter who shared a bus with the mayor, said she was happy that the buses were now back in service as this would save her money.
“Yesterday, I could not get a bus but today I woke up early to get to my stop on time. My friend told me she got the 05:30 one and there were no hiccups,” said Mashoga.
On Sunday, the municipality announced the TBS and A Re Yeng bus services would start operating again on Monday after a lengthy disruption due to an unprotected strike by Tshwane workers.
However, the day started off on shaky ground, as the majority of drivers refused to drive due to safety reasons.
According to metro spokesperson Selby Bokaba, out of 160 daily shifts, only 36 went out on the day.
Bokaba also said they would monitor the situation to see if shifts improved and which routes would be resumed.
Central residents still feel the pain of bus disruptions
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