MyCiTi strike continues for third week

Cape Town - 181017 - Bus drivers and other staff employed by the MyCiti bus operating companies have embarked on a third day of an illegal strike at the Civic Center. Bus drivers also used their vehicles to barricade roads around the Civic Center and the CBD. Photograph: Armand Hough / African News Agency (ANA)
The MyCiTi bus service is still not operating according to schedule due to an ongoing strike which has entered its third week.

MyCiTi workers, including drivers and marshals, embarked on an illegal strike on Monday October 15.

They are demanding improved working conditions and to be in-sourced by the City of Cape Town.

There have been several incidents of intimidation against those workers who are not striking.

The Vehicle Operating Companies (VOCs), who are contracted by the City to operate the MyCiTi service, are trying their best to keep the service running, but commuters are requested to take note that the service will be under pressure for as long as the unprotected strike continues.

The VOCs have also dismissed some of the bus drivers who have been participating in the unprotected strike.

The N2 Express routes between Khayelitsha and the Civic Centre station have been suspended since the petrol bombing of a MyCiTi bus on Friday October 26.

No one was injured in the incident.

Mayoral committee member for transport and urban development, Brett Herron, said: “The attack happened at around 8:15pm at the Kuyasa station. The driver was forced out of the bus before it was set alight. Nobody was injured, but the bus burnt out completely. We have received numerous reports from bus drivers who are scared to report for work. They are being intimidated and threatened. Unfortunately, we will only be able to resume operations in Khayelitsha once the situation has stabilised. We are monitoring the service and will inform commuters accordingly.”

Commuters are requested to contact the Transport Information Centre on 0800 65 64 63 for the latest information regarding the service.

Monthly ticketholders will be reimbursed with the number of days that they could not make use of the service due to the strike action.