Tshwane bus drivers inconvenience commuters
A frustrated commuter said a bus driver refused to sell him a ticket on Tuesday morning and this caused a huge inconvenience to him.
Thabang Kuaho
Commuters using Tshwane’s bus service had a bumpy few days because of a sudden strike by drivers.
All the drivers aligned to the SA Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) — about 80% of the total number — downed tools last Wednesday.
This was prompted by their unwillingness to carry cash in buses. They contended that this exposed them to danger.
Samwu regional secretary Mpho Tladinyane said the drivers carrying cash and selling tickets in the buses were at risk.
“About 10 drivers have been robbed in the past and some have been forced to quit work as a result.”
He said the union wanted the metro to introduce a new system of buying tickets.
“Discussions with the metro have been ongoing for almost two years now and we have decided to stop working until out demands have been met.”
Municipal spokesperson Lindela Mashigo said the strike had affected 80% of the routes.
He said drivers who had abandoned their posts would have their salaries docked for the days they were not working.
“We will cut their salaries, but we usually do it when the strike ends because we are then certain of the number of days they have worked,” he said.
On Monday, the two parties met to come up with a decision on this issue.
An agreement was reached that drivers would go back to work on Tuesday, but the two parties somehow misunderstood each other.
Tladinyane said they have agreed that drivers would go back to work and that they would not be required to have cash in the buses.
But the metro disputed this, saying drivers supposed to have resumes their duties in full.
Mashigo said the metro discovered later on Tuesday the drivers had resumed working but were not selling tickets.
“This is unacceptable. The metro expects the drivers to continue to sell cash tickets in the buses, carry the money bags and pick up all commuters as usual.”
He said the metro was dealing with the matter internally.
A frustrated commuter, who asked to remain anonymous, said a bus driver refused to sell him a ticket on Tuesday morning and this caused a huge inconvenience to him.
“The office in town does not sell daily tickets and not every commuter travels daily,” he said.
He proposed that weekly tickets with no expiry dates be sold.
“This will not restrict commuters, enabling them to travel whenever they want to.”
The two parties were scheduled to meet on Thursday to discuss their differences.
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