Update
GEORGE NEWS - The George Traffic Department in Pacaltsdorp was closed at lunchtime today (Friday 4 May) after a group of GO GEORGE and African Express bus drivers occupied the premises demanding to see the George Traffic Chief, Donovan Saptoe.
Gerrit Willemse, National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) Southern Cape co-ordinator, told the George Herald that the striking bus drivers decided to come to the traffic department to express their concern as the traffic department is not enforcing the permits that state that taxis cannot transport passengers on the bus routes.
The taxis are currently operating on these routes as GO GEORGE services remain suspended due to the ongoing national strike.
“The traffic department and the police are turning a blind eye by allowing the taxis to operate on the bus routes. It is illegal in George for anyone to operate a taxi on the GO GEORGE routes,” said Willemse.
The bus drivers met with the relevant law enforcement sections in the building.
“They understand our concerns but they say they do not have the manpower to implement the by-laws of George.”
Willemse said that the bus drivers are happy with the response from the traffic department for now and will wait for further clarity. “We have no problem with the taxi drivers only with the authorities.”
Today is day 19 of the nationwide bus driver’s strike that is playing havoc with the country’s labour force as commuters scramble for transport to and from their workplaces.
“The strike is starting to affect our members as the strike is on a ‘no work no pay’ basis. Numsa George wishes to place on record that two weeks before the start of the strike Numsa met with George Link, the employer of the bus drivers, to try and come to an agreement to prevent people going out on strike, but they were very arrogant and we could not reach an agreement.”
In response to a question regarding the state of negotiations at a national level, Willems said he had no extra information except for what is in the public domain. “Later this afternoon our shop stewards committee are expected to take part in a national teleconference in which they will put forward the views of the members in the Southern Cape.”
Saptoe told the George Herald that a statement will be released once the traffic department has assessed the situation.
Read a previous article: Traffic department closed due to strike
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