UPDATE: The latest news on the bus strike that left commuters stranded
The strike is due to the fact that wage negotiations have deadlocked, meaning no agreement was reached.
The bus strike that started on today, has left many commuters flocking to the taxi ranks to catch taxis to work, the strike happened in different provinces including Gauteng seeing ReaVaya, Putco, Megabus, and Greyhound users with no transport.
With the strike in place, it meant that commuters had to figure out which alternative transport they would use while bus drivers dropped tools over pay.
The strike did not affect the long distance travelling Metrobus because Metrobus workers are organised by the South African Local Government Bargaining Council.
The city’s Mayoral Committee member for Transport and Urban Development, Councillor Brett Herron said, “The strike will have a serious knock-on effect on all public transport and road based traffic.”
Benny Makgopa, the spokesperson for Rea Vaya explained that’s, “The City of Johannesburg has been informed Piotrans and Letsamaiso, that the South African Road Passengers’ Bargaining Council has received a certificate allowing them to strike on Wednesday, April 12.”
“We will continue to advise passengers on developments, we apologise for the inconvenience.”
The national strike is due to the fact that wage negotiations have deadlocked, meaning no agreement was reached.
“It’s a national wide strike and more than 16 bus operators have been affected. We just hope it ends before the closing of business today because the strike is affecting us all,” said Mpho Morokolo of Letsamaiso on the day of the strike.
The acting spokesperson for the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA,) Phakamile Hlubi said, “Members have been forced to down tools in support of a living wage and improved working conditions.”
While negotiations between representatives and unions are continuing; ReaVaya commuters will have no buses operating from today till further developments.
Putco regrets to inform its passengers that the intended strike is beyond the control of Putco as a company and that there is expected to be disruption of the bus service from the date mentioned until the strike is called off by Unions.
Passengers with printed tickets and tag trip receipts are advised to keep such tickets/receipts until the bus service and ticket sales are resumed.
All passengers who lost trips due to buses not operating during the strike and who keep and submit proof of expired tickets/trips will receive a pro-rata discount at their next ticket purchase as soon as the strike is called off.
Stay Informed: For the latest news follow us on
