Illegal strike by bus drivers continuing

Despite a meeting earlier today between some of the bus drivers and the management at Kidrogen, a MyCiTi vehicle operating company (VOC), the illegal strike is continuing into the afternoon peak hours, affecting the MyCiTi service in Table View, Atlantis, Melkbosstrand and Century City.

The City of Cape Town condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the violence and intimidation by this small group of striking bus drivers during the course of today, 30 October 2014.

Various violent incidents have been reported since the early morning hours, with the latest incident at around 12:30 in Parklands Main Road: striking drivers assaulted a non-striking bus driver and forced passengers off the MyCiTi bus. The driver managed to get away with the bus.

‘The City is shocked and appalled by this behaviour. No form of violence can be tolerated as a lawful or legitimate form of protest, no matter the reason for the grievances or unhappiness,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member: Transport for Cape Town, Councillor Brett Herron.

Passengers should please take note of the following arrangements that will apply until the strike has been resolved:

Buses along the T01 route will turn at Wood station until such time that it is safe to resume with the service to Dunoon and Usasaza.

Route 251 from Omuramba station to Century City via Montague Gardens is operating a limited service.

Commuters should please note that the services along the T03 trunk route from Omuramba station to Atlantis and the T01 between Table View and the Civic Centre station are affected by the illegal strike. Drivers from the other two VOCs are assisting to alleviate the disruption, but commuters must be aware of the fact that there will be delays for as long as the strike continues.

The services along the feeder routes in Table View (Routes 213, 214, 215, 216 and 217) and Atlantis (Routes 236 and 239) are also affected, but operating a limited service.

Additional buses are being dispatched to the Civic Centre to assist in ensuring that commuters will not be stranded during the afternoon peak hours.

Station staff at the Civic Centre and along the trunk route will inform passengers of delays.

Some of the striking drivers who have been gathering at the Dunoon station since this morning are still blocking the dedicated red lane (BRT lane), preventing MyCiTi buses from operating on this part of the route.

The City is also alarmed by reports of intimidation at the Melkbosstrand and Omuramba stations along the T03 trunk route where some of the striking drivers have been intimidating their fellow colleagues who do not want to participate in their activities.

Furthermore, this morning at 05:23, the illegal strikers stoned a bus at the Usasaza station. The service along this leg of the T01 trunk route was subsequently suspended until further notice.

Buses operating on the T01 route between the Civic Centre station and Usasaza (the last station on this route) are turning around at the Wood station. Commuters travelling to the following stations: Circle East, Potsdam, Killarney, Dunoon and Usasaza, are therefore requested to make alternative plans this afternoon.

‘These commuters are inconvenienced because of the undemocratic, violent and unconstitutional behaviour by a small group of people who have no regard for the rule of law or their fellow residents who need to get to work or school,’ said Councillor Herron.

The City, in collaboration with City Law Enforcement and the South African Police Service, is closely monitoring the situation. The services along the T01 route and to Century City will only continue as per normal once the violence has stopped.

‘While the drivers’ grievances are a matter between the employer (Kidrogen) and its employees, the City is extremely concerned about the impact of the strike on commuters, as well as the damage done to our buses. We cannot allow this sort of behaviour where employees use violence and intimidation to air their grievances. There are peaceful avenues, as stipulated by our country’s extensive labour laws, to resolve any disagreements in an amicable manner. We urge those who are involved to return to the negotiation table and to work together to find a solution,’ said Councillor Herron.

Importantly, other MyCiTi routes across the city such as the N2 Express service to Mitchells Plain and Khayelitsha, the inner-city routes, and those to Hout Bay and Hangberg, are not affected.

The City apologises for the inconvenience caused and requests commuters to please be patient. Commuters can contact the Transport Information Centre 24/7 on 0800 65 64 63 for the latest information regarding the service, or follow @MyCiTibus on Twitter, or visit the facebook page ‘MyCiTi Integrated Rapid Transit System’.