Cosatu protests against bus robberies
MEMBERS of the provincial wing of Cosatu marched to the Golden Arrow Bus Services (Gabs) depot yesterday, to protest against what they claimed was Gabs management's failure to protect commuters and bus drivers.
Cosatu provincial secretary Malvern De Bruyn said they held meetings with Gabs management, but claimed there was not a successful outcome.
De Bruyn claimed that Gabs management had refused to accept responsibility for taking action against the spate of crime on buses, and was trying to shift responsibility to the police.
“They (Gabs management) did not give us real answers as to how to curb these robberies on the buses. We even gave them our ideas, but they did not take them seriously," he said.
This comes after a public outcry over the ongoing robberies and attacks on Gabs buses, with commuters and activists accusing Gabs management of failing to protect commuters.
Gabs spokesperson Bronwen DykeBeyer said the company reiterated that it shared Cosatu’s desire for safe public transport, and said Gabs did not want to have an adversarial relationship with Cosatu, and believed much more could be achieved with their support.
“We have shared with them, and the public, our plan and have since had further discussions with local and provincial government as well as the police to ensure that our response is co-ordinated,” she said.
Mayco member for safety and security JP Smith said metro police officers had been conducting daily and ad hoc checks on Golden Arrow buses.
Last week, Transport and Public Works MEC Bonginkosi Madikizela said his department, in partnership with Gabs, aimed to to test new technological interventions on buses to counter attacks and robberies.