SowetanLive reports that commuters navigated long‚ frustrating queues to board taxis‚ trains and share lifts as a national bus strike got under way on Wednesday.
Thousands of people were stranded or late getting to their destinations while some taxi owners said they were overwhelmed by the sheer number of passengers jostling for space on their vehicles. Bus drivers represented by five unions are seeking a 12% salary increase‚ among other demands‚ but wage negotiations have deadlocked with employers offering 7%. The strike affected commuters across the country – from Johannesburg to George‚ Mpumalanga to Cape Town‚ Limpopo and Port Elizabeth. Cape Town appeared to be particularly hard hit. A taxi owner said: "Bus owners did not inform us about the strike and we couldn't make provision for additional vehicles." Commuters at Cleary Park in Port Elizabeth said they too had to find alternative means of transport. Bus services were also severely affected around Tshwane and there were reports of long-distance buses also not running in parts of the country. There were long queues at the Bree Street taxi rank in Johannesburg.
- Read this report in full at SowetanLive
- See too, Durban buses to operate as normal amid transport protest, at The Mercury
- And also, Sorry for stranding you‚ but we must feed our families, says bus driver, at Timeslive
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page