Durban bus terminal a ghost town due to national bus strike

Long-distance bus operations have ground to a halt in Durban as a result of a nationwide bus strike‚ leading to growing fears that thousands of commuters could be affected over the Easter long weekend.

National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) secretary in KwaZulu-Natal‚ Mbuso Ngubane‚ said buses affected by the strike included those of companies such as Translux‚ Greyhound and City to City.

“There is no bus that is moving out of Durban Station Bus Terminal‚ as we speak. It is really unfortunate that we’re embarking on a strike on the eve of a busy long weekend‚ which is going to be affecting those who are planning to go on holiday and those who will be attending their church gatherings‚” said Ngubane.

• Commuters stranded‚ late for work as bus strike kicks offThousands of commuters have been left stranded as bus drivers went on strike on Wednesday. 

Calls to Eldo Coaches‚ Translux and Greyhound – all of which are based at Durban's main bus terminal – were unanswered. An Intercape operator said all calls had been diverted to their national call centre because no buses were operating due to the strike.

Bus drivers are striking in pursuit of a 12% pay rise. Numsa and the SA Transport and Allied Workers’ Union and other unions have been in wage talks with employers since January.

• Bus strike deal 'urgent'As a nationwide bus strike planned for today is set to affect thousands of commuters, the Department of Transport says it has no "plan B" to help stranded passengers. 

“The result of negotiations‚ which we began in January up until today‚ could not yield any positive results because of recalcitrant employers‚” said Ngubane.

He said their demand of a 12% pay rise was based on the fact that drivers were expected to drive 16 hours without resting “which puts their lives in danger and the lives of passengers and motorists on the road in danger as well”.

He said local drivers were required to park their buses during off-peak hours and during that time they were not being paid as they were not considered to be at work.

“Their salary is around R4‚500 and we are saying it’s an unjust salary scale and that’s why we are demanding 12%. So you can see that the strike is really justifiable‚” said Ngubane.

However‚ he said Numsa was ready for negotiations with the hope that a deal may be struck before the start of the Easter long weekend on Friday.

Nelson Mandela Bay commuters were also left stranded as bus drivers went on strike on Wednesday.

Commuters were left scrambling for alternative transport around the Bay on Wednesday morning.

Vuyo Maci‚ 27‚ said he only became aware of the strike when the he saw his regular bus stop in Kwazakhele deserted.

“I am very angry. How do they choose to strike without informing the public properly? This is absurd. I only have a bus coupon and now I have to borrow taxi fare to town‚” he said.