By Palesa Matlala
- Rea Vaya drivers strike leaves hundreds stranded as all buses are blocked from leaving the depot with no warning given.
- Commuters are forced to walk home for taxi money after loading monthly bus cards, with some sacrificing lunch money for transport.
Hundreds of commuters were left stranded on Monday morning as Rea Vaya drivers went on strike.
It is unclear what led to the strike, but the rapid transit company released a notice on their X page, telling commuters that all Rea Vaya buses are not operating today.
“Passengers are informed that all Rea Vaya buses are NOT operating today. Buses have been blocked from leaving the depot,” read the X post.
They added that they are in contact with operating companies to find out the problem and that passengers must use other transport.
But this has left commuters frustrated and angry.
Tshepiso Makgobokwane told Scrolla.Africa it takes her about 40 minutes to walk from her house to the Thokoza Park station, where she catches the T1 express bus to Johannesburg.
She was disappointed when she arrived and found other commuters standing outside the station because it was closed. “No one knew what was happening and even the Rea Vaya employees didn’t know,” said Makgobokwane.
The 26-year-old call centre agent added that she walked back home to get money because she only had her Rea Vaya card, which she had fully loaded for the month of August.
“Imagine walking back home to collect taxi cash, but I loaded my card yesterday. If the strike continues, it means I need to sacrifice my lunch money because I need it for my transport fare,” she said.
She added that she feels let down and hopes that the rapid bus system will sort out all its problems.
“If it’s not drivers striking, then it’s a go-slow or worse—they are killing each other with taxi owners. At the end of the day, we the commuters get affected financially and our safety is at risk,” said Makgobokwane.
Details about the strike are still unclear; however, Rea Vaya updated their X post, saying “services remain suspended”.
Pictured above: Rea Vaya lane.
Image source: @ReaVaya
