GroundUp reports that a bus driver strike over wages has paralysed the transport system in Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality.  

Libhongolethu Bus Services operates a fleet of buses in the northern areas of Port Elizabeth.  The buses are owned by the municipality, which has subcontracted Spectrum Alert, a private company, to run the routes.  The bus system was rolled out two years ago after the municipality bought out taxi drivers who were then employed by Spectrum Alert as drivers and conductors.  The bus workers embarked on a strike four weeks ago.  On Monday, employees who had not previously particiapted in the strike did so, paralysing the bus system.  About 300 workers — drivers, conductors and office cleaners — are taking part in the strike.  They are not represented by any union.  The workers accuse Spectrum Alert of paying them late and deducting provident fund, unemployment insurance and other benefits from their wages but failing to forward the monies to the funds, which the company denies.  They also say that when the bus system was launched, the agreement was that all drivers and conductors would come from the taxi associations which gave up their licences.  Now, they say, Spectrum Alert is employing drivers from other areas in the northern areas.  Mayoral spokesperson George Geleba explained:  "The delay in making payment to Spectrum Alert employees can be attributed to the fact that it fails to submit its invoices timeously to the municipality."  He said some invoices contained errors.

Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Joseph Chirume at News24

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