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Cape Town – Johannesburg residents faced a hat-trick of inconveniences on Friday, with load shedding entering its fifth consecutive day, water cuts planned for the weekend and a Gautrain bus wildcat strike.
Gautrain alerted commuters on Facebook on Thursday that its bus service was suspended, following the wildcat driver strike that started earlier that morning and which was still ongoing on Friday.
Trains have not been impacted by the strike and were running to their usual schedule.
Raymond Honiball said the alert didn’t help. “A bit late to post something now,” he commented on Facebook. “Where was the notification at 05:00 this morning, when it would have meant more to commuters?”
“Bus passengers are urged to please make alternative arrangements,” Gautrain explained.
“For operational alerts subscription, send the word ‘ALERT’ to 32693 for SMS updates to your mobile.
Other issues facing Joburgers include:
- load shedding: See the graph showing next week's forecast vs demand
- water cuts: See this map and read this story
Bus drivers deserve better pay
Casper Britz said on Facebook that he has been a daily commuter on the Gautrain for over a year now.
“In this time there have been at least six strikes by bus drivers (specifically in Sandton), making me have to call my bosses and other colleagues to make excuses and get a lift to work, sometimes for a few days on end, or take my own car to work."
Gautrain bus drivers went on wildcat strikes last year on June 24 and again on August 20, but returned to work soon afterwards.
The wildcat strike by our Bus Drivers continues. Period pass commuters may claim refund by following this process: http://t.co/2wvkwserAf
— Gautrain (@TheGautrain) February 6, 2015@TheGautrain to find if there is a Metrobus going your way search http://t.co/gZJTXcboo6 for route maps, stop locations etc
— Moving Joburg (@MovingJoburg) February 6, 2015'Just tell us you're going to strike'
“I always aim to be friendly with the bus drivers, since I can just imagine it’s a tough job having to drive on these usually congested roads, having to endure the driving ‘skills’ of taxi and other bus drivers, and even some rude customers," said Britz.
“As such, I do believe the bus drivers should be paid according to the stress levels they endure.
“However, this does not excuse you to embark on illegal or unannounced strikes.
“Please, bus drivers, I beg you, warn us if you are planning to go on strike.”
Poor communication from Gautrain
User Asha Deonarain told Fin24 that she was stranded in Centurion on Friday for over an hour before realising that something was wrong. "I don't have time for Twitter or Facebook, where they apparently told people about the strike," she said.
"I eventually called my boyfriend who took me to the Midrand bus stop, as I thought the issue was isolated to Centurion," she said. "With no buses there either, I had to catch a taxi to work in Sandton, which cost me R250."
"Gautrain should alert the media when they have issues like this," she said. "Simply putting it on social media isn't good enough."
Fin24 user Johann Serfontein had a better way for bus drivers to strike. "In Europe, when bus drivers go on strike, they drive the buses as normal, but just don't charge passengers. That way, they have full public support for their strike and the company feels it a lot harder. Can these guys not think of that?"
Have you been impacted by the Gautrain bus wildcat strike? Tell us now.
