Striking bus service drivers to return to work

Some 63 striking bus drivers at the Tshwane Bus Service (TBS) have indicated that they will resume working — probably on Friday.

Tshwane metro spokesperson Selby Bokaba said municipal management held talks with the disgruntled bus drivers on Thursday.

“Most of them indicated that they will return to work. At this stage we don’t know whether it will be today, tomorrow or Monday.”

The group downed tools on Monday without prior warning or notice, demanding that an automated fare collection system be introduced with immediate affect. They are affiliated to the SA Municipal Workers Union.

As a result, only 105 of the metro’s 187 daily buses used daily were running. Several routes throughout the city were affected.

The Tshwane metro indicated that stern action, which could include summery dismissal, would be taken against the striking workers.

Bokaba said: ”The City will apply the no-work no-pay rule against the 63 employees who went on strike. As to the type of disciplinary action to be taken, that will be on the advice of our human relations department and this entails a process which still has to be laid on. We obviously therefore cannot say what the outcome of such actions will be.”

He advised commuters relying on bus transport to plan for alternative arrangements until the strike was over.

Acting City Manager Ms Lindiwe Kwele once again apologised to bus commuters for the inconvenience.

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