Buses back on roads after agreement with taxis

EAST London bus commuters can breathe a part-sigh of relief as some – but not all – Mayibuye Transport Corporation buses head back to the road after smoking the peace pipe with taxi operators over routes and schedules.

Earlier this month, the popular bus corporation reached a deadlock in services after taxi associations prevented them from operating, claiming they were operating on “their” routes and without valid permits.

The taxi associations claimed that buses were operating illegally and were taking over their routes.

Uncendo Service Taxi Association East London spokesman Vuyani Mbewu said they asked Mayibuye to suspend its services after it failed to produce documentation they had requested.

Speaking to the Daily Dispatch yesterday, Mbewu said after several meetings in an attempt to resolve the impasse, the taxi associations and the bus corporation agreed to form a steering committee that would iron out the disputes.

“The department of transport will act as our middleman to facilitate our engagements with Mayibuye bus services. With regard to the problems that were outlined, we proposed that Mayibuye must deal with taxi issues per area. If Alice raises their issues, Mayibuye must go to Alice taxi operators and address those problems there. They must do this across the province.

“They agreed with our complaint that their buses have sucked business out of certain areas and left our taxis out of business,” he said.

Mbewu said the two sides reached an agreement on how and where the buses could operate in East London.

“In Mdantsane, for example, where Mayibuye had eight buses operating, we’ve agreed that they be reduced to a maximum of five buses.

“Bus routes will also be reduced, and certain scheduled buses will no longer continue. We’ve also requested that buses operating without permits should be suspended.”

He said a follow-up meeting next Monday would confirm new bus routes and schedules.

“We’ve given Mayibuye time to engage with their customers. After Monday, more feedback will be communicated with members of the public.”

Mayibuye spokeswoman Bongi Solwandle confirmed that peace had been established and said buses were back on the road again.—