Bus strike hits Moria

Bus operators to lose millions in extra revenue

Thousands of Zion Christian Church members making their annual Easter pilgrimage to Moria in Limpopo will be left scrambling for alternative transport because of the nationwide bus strike.

Bus drivers across South Africa embarked on a wage strike yesterday affecting both local and long distance commuters.

Yesterday public relations officer at Putco, Mmule Raborifi, said they cancelled all 682 buses which were booked for the Moria trip this year.

“None of our buses will be going to Moria,” Raborifi said.

The annual trip to Moria, near Mankweng, is a longstanding tradition for ZCC members who descend upon the church’s headquarters for the Easter service.

Most people start making their way to Moria a day before Good Friday.

Raborifi said the company would have to refund those who had booked with them.

“People are already receiving refunds. We have advised them to make alternative arrangements,” Raborifi said.

She said their standard size buses carried 65 passengers while their bigger buses carry 80 passengers each.

Patrick Monkoe at Great North Transport in Limpopo said they were hoping that negotiations between the South African Bus Employers association and the unions would resolve issues speedily.

Monkoe said management would have to decide on the Moria situation depending on how negotiations unfold.

He said they had not finalised the number of buses expected to make the trip for Moria this year as their bookings were usually open up until the eleventh hour.

Monkoe said people were already showing reluctance to book with them by Tuesday as news of the strike started spreading.

He said last year 90% of their 504 fleet was booked out to transport people to Moria.

Satawu spokeswoman Zanele Sabela said people with plans to travel to Moria and other long distance passengers would feel the impact.

“Unfortunately the people who are affected are commuters,” Sabela said.

She said the strike was indefinite: “The ball is literally in the court of the employer.”

The ball is literally in the court of the employer Zanele Sabela SATAWU SPOKESWOMAN