UTHUNGULU bus drivers said they are resolute and don’t want to work for Sithole anymore, no matter how many times he takes them to court.
For the second time, they appeared in court on Wednesday in Durban, following their alleged illegal strike of three weeks ago owing to a breakdown in a working relationship with their employer, (Zululand Observer, 13 & 21 March).
From 10 March, the bus drivers went on strike complaining about their unpaid salaries, unpaid provident fund, and also accused Uthungulu Bus Director and CEO Mduduzi Sithole of ill-treating them.
The strike resulted in a protest by affected communities who marched to the Department of Transport offices, Empangeni Region, demanding a new bus service be installed as they had lost all trust in the Uthungulu Bus Lines.
A resolution was taken after talks at the Department of Transport for Ikhwezi Bus Company to provide a temporary bus service to the affected communities, while Uthungulu Bus Lines sorts out its problems.
‘Even if some drivers can go back to drive Uthungulu buses, they will be putting their lives in danger since KwaMthethwa people don’t want to see those buses in their areas anymore,’ said one anonymous driver.
Speaking on behalf of Uthungulu Bus Lines, Mrs Sithole assured Uthungulu Bus employees they have resolved all their problems. ‘We have paid all their outstanding salaries and also their provident fund monies.’
She also informed Zululand Observer the company has written a letter of apology to the KwaMthethwa community, with a hope of securing a meeting with them, so all their problems with the bus company are ironed out.
Bonginkosi Mthethwa, KwaMthethwa bus commuters’ spokesperson said, after hearing about the court decision, ‘This is gone too far. We don’t want Uthungulu buses in our areas, but Ikhwezi buses. We would like to appeal to the KZN General Manager: Public & Freight Transport Advocate Simo Chamane to resolve this matter urgently, otherwise the KZN Transport MEC, Willies Mchunu will have to come and address the impasse himself.’
Attempts to speak to Advocate Simo Chamane were unsuccessful at the time of going to print.
