Tshwane metro changes bus schedules after 11 drivers test positive for Covid-19
“The reality is that our staff, particularly bus drivers, are at the forefront of service delivery.”
Tshwane metro has implemented a rotational bus timetable system, using 20 bus drivers per week, to cope with the current surge of Covid-19 infections plaguing the city.
The revised bus schedule follows the extension of adjusted alert level 4 by the presidency.
MMC for Roads and Transport Dikeledi Selowa said the measures would assist the Tshwane bus service to maintain consistency of bus service.
The current revised timetable will see the city operate 129 daily shifts from 160.
“We have tried to retain the old daily operations; however, the current situation has forced the scaling down of shifts in some areas while still prioritising passenger mobility.”
She said the changes meant that in some instances, the usual arrival and departure times of buses were altered and merged to accommodate everyone.
“The reality is that our staff, particularly bus drivers who are at the forefront of service delivery, have been affected by Covid-19,” said Selowa.
She said, just this past week alone 11 TBS drivers had tested positive for Covid-19.
“We are aware of our obligation to always provide a safe and reliable passenger transportation system, but we find it difficult to do so without implementing any form of change under the current circumstances.”
She said the move to scale down daily shifts came as forced measure, due to the current pandemic, “which is surging in Gauteng and across the country at large”.
All revised shifts are available at the following link: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1zvpc6tdy0KNmAg-o9q5ihRv2vfxm8EJa?usp=sharing
The following contacts can be used for further clarifications and updates:
Twitter handle @Tshwanebus2
Email: busenquiries@tshwane.gov.za
Tel: 012 358 0839/0840/0214/0306
This follows, Tshwane mayor Randall Williams pleading with residents to keep to Covid-19 precautionary measures.
He cautioned residents after the metro had registered a “tolerable reduction” in the number of Covid-19 active cases.
Williams confirmed daily cases were still steadily high, ranging between 2 000 and 3 000 cases per day.
“While the decrease in active cases is welcome, the third wave is still raging.”
Williams said active cases had slightly dropped to 25 491 as of Monday.
In the previous week, the number of Covid-19 active cases stood at 26 796.
Williams said Tshwane had recorded a “modest reduction” in the number of active cases this week.
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