Bus strike leaves Pretoria commuters stranded

Pretoria commuters were left stranded when Tshwane bus service staff members went on strike yesterday morning.

This was after Tshwane Bus Service (TBS) management informed commuters that operations were suspended in the afternoon due to an illegal strike by South African Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) affiliated workers.

They said the workers were aggrieved about overtime payments and a salary increase.

“We institute labour processes to ensure that bus drivers return to duty and that normal operations resume,” said Tshwane metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo.

“In line with the collective agreement, the metro’s labour relations unit will issue a letter informing the Samwu regional office to direct its members to return to work,” he said.

Commuters in Centurion, Olievenhoutbosch, Pretoria east, Pretoria North, Wonderboom, Pretoria West and surrounding areas were affected by the strike.

Mashigo said further developments will be communicated to commuters in due course.

“We are advising our commuters to make alternative travel arrangements, as metro management continues to engage with the workers,” he said.

Commuter Emma Mahlangu said she was disappointed by the bus service.

“Why would the bus drivers come in the morning to collect our kids knowing that they will strike later on? Yesterday, we received calls from the Laudium police station that we need to organise transport for our children. The bus services are putting our children’s lives at risk,” she said.

Commuter Martha Mkhwanazi said she takes three buses daily to get to work from Pretoria West to Silverton.

Yesterday, she was left stranded along with other several commuters.

“We pay for our bus tickets and we get no refund,” she said.

Resident Nelly Xulu said that when they applied for cards to use the buses, they filled in forms and supplied contact numbers, but they did not receive any SMSes informing them about the strike.

“The City of Tshwane doesn’t bother to inform us early to make alternative arrangements. We load cards for a full month and every month there is a problem with Tshwane buses leaving us stranded,” she said.

Lizelle Eloff said it was “quite frustrating” because they have to struggle to get to work, especially in the evenings.

“It is very unfair to us because we have a budget that we work on. We do not have the funds to pay for alternative transport.”

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