The ongoing bus strike, which has entered its second week,
caused chaos at Bellville taxi rank this morning (Thursday 3 May).
Taxis were seen standing at the bus depot due to the influx
of commuters.
A bus commuter, Catherine Faffer from Blue Downs, told
TygerBurger that she desperately wants the strike to end: “I’m so frustrated
with this ongoing strike. It’s affecting all of us [bus commuters] very
negatively in terms of our finances and the extra measures we must now take to
ensure that we get to work.”
Faffer said there is no convenient alternative to getting to
work. She starts work at 07:00, but since the strike she’s been getting to work
at 08:00.
“When the buses were still operating, I’d leave home around
05:20 to get the 05:25 bus. But now, I’m unable to be on my way that time of
the morning because trains are full, always delayed or not operating and taxis
just drive past me because it’s too full. This is such an inconvenience. I
really hope the bus workers get what they are demanding so things can just go
back to normal.”
Another commuter, who preferred to remain anonymous, told
TygerBurger that he has been losing hours due to the strike: “Time is money and
I’m losing it. This is affecting my livelihood. I’m so fed up with this
strike.”
The City of Cape Town says it remains unclear when the
dead-locked wage negotiations will be resolved.
“As such, the lock-out instituted by the Vehicle Operating
Companies operating the MyCiTi service will remain in place until further
notice. Regretfully, this means that there will be no MyCiTi trunk or feeder
services available for as long as the strike and lock-out continue,” says
Councillor Brett Herron, Mayoral Committee Member for Transport and Urban
Development.
Herron says that MyCiTi commuters are requested to make
alternative travelling arrangements for the time being. He adds that the City
is monitoring the situation, and will provide commuters with updates as far as
possible.
