Cape Town – As of Wednesday, no MyCiTi buses will be operating due to the looming nationwide bus drivers’ strike action.
“The strike will have a serious knock-on effect on all public transport and road-based traffic as more than 72 000 commuters rely on the MyCiTi service on any given weekday,” said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Transport and Urban Development, Councillor Brett Herron.
“Given the challenges that Metrorail is experiencing we anticipate that the strike action will have a severe impact on Cape Town’s commuters in general.”
The City of Cape Town released a statement asking commuters to make alternative travelling arrangements because the MyCiTi service will be suspended as from Wednesday.
“Commuters are reminded that nationwide strike action affecting the entire South African bus industry will take effect as from midnight tonight until further notice,” the media statement said on Tuesday.
The result, as the City explained, would be an increase in traffic and longer travelling times for everyone making use of the roads.
The strike action was a result of dead-locked wage negotiations.
According to the City, the Vehicle Operating Companies (VOCs) operating the MyCiTi service will institute a lock-out to ensure the safety of commuters and personnel for the duration of the strike. This means that there will be no MyCiTi trunk or feeder services available as from Wednesday morning, for as long as the strike and lock-out continue.
“Those commuters with monthly MyCiTi tickets must note that the monthly packages will be extended equal to the number of days the strike action lasts. The number of days will be determined once the strike has come to an end,” the City said.
“Further details will be communicated in due course.”
The City has said that they anticipate a significant increase in the number of vehicles on the city’s road network because the bus commuters will either opt for minibus-taxis or use their own private vehicles to get to work and back.
“Again, I call on private businesses in Cape Town to consider implementing flexible working hours or remote working arrangements for employees where possible and practical, for the duration of the strike action,” said Councillor Herron.
