The South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (SATAWU) called for work stoppage that have resulted in thousands of commuters in Hammanskraal and the surrounding areas stranded on 20-21 September 2017.
SATAWU spokesperson, Sandy Mohlakeng, accused management at the North-west Star (NWS) and ABS bus companies of failing to give value for money to their loyal customers by refusing to replace worn-out and un-roadworthy bus fleet.
“We have realised that the company and the board members are taking us for granted. We are short of buses, the buses are not safe to transport passengers and in most cases, buses do not reach their destinations because of breakdowns.
“The other matter is that the company has notified us not to expect our salaries on time as a result we cannot pay our bills on time and they also cannot provide us with proper uniform,” Said Mr Mohlakeng.
The strike is currently unidentified, as the workers did not give a deadline to the company to resolve their concerns.
Ms Tebogo Mphuthi from Majaneng who commutes daily with the North West Star buses said she is in risk of losing her job because of the shortage of buses in Hammanskraal and pleaded with the government to intervene urgently.
“Yesterday I could not go to work because there were no buses and I had already bought a weekly ticket, so my alternative was a taxi and I had not budgeted for this.
“Using a taxi for today and tomorrow will cost me R140 plus the R169 I had already spent to buy the ticket which will mean that this week alone I would have spent over R300 just to get to the Pretoria CBD. I plead with the authorities to intervene and bring us enough buses,” said Ms Mphuthi.
SATAWU and NWS management will meet today to resolve the impasse to try and get the drivers back to work.
