End to bus stalemate
Temporary relief for frustrated commuters as Department of Transport steps in.
AFTER almost two weeks of no show by uThungulu buses, leaving commuters stranded and forcing them to find expensive alternative transport, the Department of Transport intervened with an emergency temporary rescue plan by Ikhwezi Bus Services.
The KwaMthethwa community was relieved to hear buses would be back in operation yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon.
Expressing their frustrations and anger at the ongoing uThungulu bus drivers’ strike on Tuesday afternoon, scores of commuters marched to the Department of Transport, Empangeni Region, to hand over a list of grievances.
The strike, caused by deadlocked wage negotiations, had left passengers stranded for almost two weeks, with some having to fork out large amounts of money to go to work, over and above the weekly and or monthly uThungulu bus service tickets they had already purchased.
Marchers shouted slogans slating uThungulu Bus Director and CEO Mduduzi Sithole and saying they no longer wanted uThungulu buses to transport them, but rather Ikhwezi Buses.
KZN Transport intervenes
Negotiations inside the department offices to resolve the impasse between uThungulu Bus Company, its employees, the KZN Department of Transport (represented by its HOD, Advocate Simo Chamane) and commuters’ representatives went on through the night while commuters protested outside the department’s gates.
KwaMthethwa commuters’ spokesperson Bonginkosi Mthethwa said, ‘Ikhwezi has given us buses to transport people as of today (Wednesday).’
But according to the KZN Department of Transport, Ikhwezi Buses will only be helping out until uThungulu Buses sorted out its problems.
Asked to comment, Sithole only said, ‘There will be a bus service to transport commuters today. Buses will be operating as normal from this afternoon.’
For more on the story read ongoing-strike-leaves-passengers-stranded
