Benny Makgoga, director of City of Joburg service promotions said, “The City of Johannesburg is pleased to inform passengers and residents that Rea Vaya services will resume.”
Makgoga said some routes will have buses running at the average frequency of 10 minutes during peak hour, and 20 minutes off-peak from Monday to Friday. He said on Saturdays buses will run every 20 minutes during peak hours, and 30 minutes off-peak. The Sunday and public holidays service will see buses run every 30 minutes.
Makgoga said, “The operating times for the trunk [main routes from one destination to another] and complementary [that add extended, circular routes to the main route] routes will be from 5am to 6pm and 5am to 7pm for the feeder buses. Thus, the last bus to leave the Joburg CBD is 6pm and the last feeder bus to leave a Rea Vaya station is 7pm. The City will be operating 38 percent of the service.”
He said that was due to the fact that Piotrans and Ditsamaiso, the bus operating companies, have not yet been able to recruit the required number of new drivers.
“As soon as sufficient drivers have been recruited and trained, further services will be introduced,” Makgoga said.
On 2 February, Rea Vaya commuters were left stranded as bus drivers went on an ‘unexpected’ strike in the Johannesburg CBD. Commuters were asked to use alternative transport in the meantime until the strike was resolved.
Piotrans dismissed 158 of its drivers who went on strike, and spokesperson Dumisani Mntambo said the majority of striking drivers failed to appear before a disciplinary hearing.
Passengers, who have their smart cards loaded with funds and single or double trip cards, are eligible to use them for travel. Makgoga apologised on behalf of the City for the inconvenience caused by the lack of service for the past six weeks and said the city would continue to provide information on when the remaining routes will start operating.
Details: Dumisani Mntambo 011988 6558 or 083 264 7813.
Are or were you a commuter who has been affected by the Rea Vaya strike? Let us know how you have been affected in the comments below.
