East AutoPax bus drivers left in limbo

AutoPax bus drivers desperately need permanent jobs to feed their families.

October 6, 2017

Stephen Selaluke 1 minute read

AutoPax bus drivers want to know what is going to happen to them.

Hardly a week after Tshwane metro introduced the A Re Yeng bus service in Mamelodi, former drivers of the previous service provider have complained of being left in limbo.

AutoPax withdrew its service last week, but its drivers said they had been left in the dark and they do not know what is going to happen to them. They have been left jobless and don’t know how they would take care of their families and pay their bills.

AutoPax buses moved out of the Mamelodi East bus depot and locked the workers out.

More than 50 drivers, including AutoPax general workers, gathered outside the depot demanding answers. Apparently they were promised permanent jobs on Tuesday afternoon.

Driver Solomon Sithole said: “We were promised permanent jobs, but now we are left in the dark. A Re Yeng buses have started operating in Mamelodi but no one from AutoPax has been employed.”

ALSO READ: A Re Yeng first phase completed

Sithole said the former AutoPax manager in Mamelodi took their CVs and said they would be given first preference when new drivers were hired.

Another driver, Vincent Mogoatlhe, said in spite of being asked to hand in their CVs, there were rumours that AuoPax drivers would not be employed as the majority did not have grade 12 certificates.

ALSO READ: A Re Yeng experience in the capital city

“What are we going to do to feed our families because the only qualification we have is the code 14 driver’s licences,” said Mogoathle.

A Re Yeng spokesperson Sam Matabane said: “The (AutoPax) drivers were told to hand in their CVs and we will conduct interviews. But we don’t guarantee that we will hire all of them. Those who will be hired will work on a contract basis for the duration of A Re Yeng services in Mamelodi,” said Matabane.