Brakpan commuters stranded by bus strike

Workers of the Brakpan Bus Company are also demanding that the Ekurhuleni council take over the running of the company, since it is 100% owned by council.

Passengers in KwaThema, Tsakane, Duduza and surrounding areas will remain without transport because drivers have vowed that they would not resume their duties until Ekurhuleni council integrates them and re-adjusts their salaries so they are in line with those of their colleagues working for Germiston and Boksburg bus companies.

Workers said the City of Ekurhuleni has been claiming that the bus company was independent, but they were adamant that the council was the sole owner of the company.

"We have not been getting any benefits since the company was launched in 2000," Cedric Maleka, one of the disgruntled workers, said on Wednesday (19 June), claiming, together with his colleagues, that they were being paid between R4,500 and R5,000 per month, whereas their counterparts working for other council-owned bus companies elsewhere were earning about R12,500.

Council cannot interfere

The Brakpan Bus Company, with 80 drivers and more than 20 general workers, transports more than 3,000 passengers each day.

Another bus driver, Zakhele Zindela, said workers were exploited, and - as an illustration - said, after years of loyal service, when they retired, they were given a paltry R14,000. "Some of our colleagues died and their families received nothing from the company," Zindela said.

On Wednesday, workers representatives and the City of Ekurhuleni were locked in a meeting in an attempt to resolve the dispute. At the weekend, the City of Ekurhuleni obtained an urgent interdict preventing other employees - who are unaffected - from embarking on a secondary strike in solidarity with the protesting bus drivers.

Council spokesman Sam Modiba said: "It's true that we are the 100% shareholder, but the owner of the company is the Brakpan Bus Company. The company is registered as a separate entity and has its own governance structure and board.

"Salaries are determined by negotiated agreement in the road and transport bargaining council. We cannot interfere in their business," Modiba said.

He said council is trying to mediate the dispute between the parties.

The affected company's managing director, Elias Matentje said: "I was away on leave and I have just returned today. I still have to be informed about what is happening."

Source: Sowetan via I-Net Bridge