Tshwane bus drivers facing dismissal amid prolonged strike
The City of Tshwane has served seven Tshwane bus drivers with intended letters of dismissal after they allegedly prevented the buses from resuming operations.
The employees, whom the city has accused of being the strike ‘instigators’, allegedly intimidated their non-striking colleagues at the C De Wet Depot in the Pretoria CBD.
The Tshwane bus service was expected to resume on Tuesday. However, few workers reported for duty amid the unprotected strike led by workers affiliated to the South African Municipal Workers Union (Samwu).
The strike, which started in July, has led to an interruption in the delivery of services in the city, including electricity outage repairs, water restoration, and refuse removal.
"Twelve TBS drivers pitched up for duty this morning, four called in claiming to be sick, and only two buses went out for the 4.30am shift, but there were no commuters at the bus stations, and the buses returned to the depot,” said city spokesperson Selby Bokaba
"The seven instigators have been given 24 hours within which to make representations as to why they shouldn’t be permanently dismissed."
Bokaba said the A Re Yeng bus operations have been running smoothly since the morning.
"While the Roads and Transport Department management will re-issue the instruction to TBS employees to service the afternoon operations, failing which, disciplinary action will be instituted, which will include the issuing of intended letters of dismissal."
To date, the city has since dismissed 123 employees for taking part in the strike.
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