MyCiTi strike turns ugly as EFF intervenes
THE city council is set to apply for an urgent court interdict to protect MyCiTi personnel, passengers, and assets against those participating in an unprotected strike that turned violent.
Yesterday the situation got out of hand after two women bus drivers were held hostage, passengers were chased out of the MyCiTi stations and MyCiTi buses stoned, along with further acts of intimidation, assault and the blocking of roads.
This after the EFF took advantage of the situation and elbowed themselves into the unionised workers’ unprotected action.
Mayoral committee member for transport and urban development Brett Herron, bus companies, strike leaders and the EFF failed to reach an agreement. Herron and the bus companies refused to engage with representatives of the EFF at the meeting.
“The EFF is here to stay. We are not going to follow what they want; we have demands,” said EFF provincial secretary, Andrew Arnolds. “We are going to bring the MyCiTi service to a halt and we will make sure they have no choice but to listen to us.”
Yesterday morning protesters blocked Hertzog Boulevard in the Cape
Town CBD as the strike entered its third day. The strike was expected to continue today as talks between the city council and the leaders of the strikers broke down again yesterday.
Striking bus drivers are believed to have roped-in members of the EFF, but the bus companies and the City of Cape Town refused to have the political party present in the labour dispute, leading to the talks being deadlocked.
The MyCiTi bus service is running on limited operations because of the strike. One the vehicle operating companies (VOCs) issued a letter to striking employees warning them about possible legal action.
Transpeninsula Investments’ operations manager, Floris Hamman said: “The company reserves its right to an urgent court interdict in order to bring an end to the illegal industrial action.
“Failure to comply with this last ultimatum can lead to your dismissal.”
Some protesting workers have returned to work but many routes remain suspended.
These are routes A01, T01, T04, 101, 102, 103,104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 114, 110, 213, 214, 215, 216, 217, 230, 231, 235, 251, 260, 261, 262, MyCiTi announced on Twitter. “The bus companies have already threatened to go to court but Herron promised to meet us as promised.
“He gave his commitment and it’s upsetting because we just want an ear and we want him to hear our grievances,” bus driver Patrick Mabindisa said . Xolani Sotashe, ANC leader in the city council, said he would be meeting with Herron and mayor Patricia De Lille.
“We are planning to put pressure on the city council; we are planning on engaging with De Lille.
“As the ANC we are taking this matter very seriously. Herron not meeting these drivers is a clear indication of pure arrogance and it’s not helping this situation,” Sotashe said.
Meanwhile, the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) has slammed the EFF for having a political agenda.
“If these workers lose their jobs it’s not going to be the EFF that will help them, it’s Numsa. We are not blind, we can see that they have a political agenda.
“We are not happy about how the strike is being handled, but we are trying to engage with the city (council) on the matter,” provincial secretary Vuyo Lufele said.
Herron said those participating in the unprotected strike were not getting paid while absent from work and would face disciplinary action on their return.