Gauteng SACP Press Statement in support of the BRT Divers strike

12 September 2011

The SACP Gauteng Province is concerned by the failure of Johannesburg Metro to provide Rea Vaya bus services owing to the strike by the bus drivers. We have observed that this service has been interrupted and has not been working for over a month. In our view, amongst the recent major transport infrastructure projects, Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) is the only system that is geared towards mass mobility as it benefits the working class communities as a reliable mode of transport. All this is happening whilst transport earmarked for the elite such as the Gautrain is facing minimum interruption. We see this as a serious neglect of working class communities.

To that end, we are fully behind the strike by the Reya Vaya drivers as we are convinced that the demands of the workers in this regard are legitimate. The disparities that currently exist in terms of salaries and service conditions between other municipality workers including Metro Bus drivers and Reya Vaya drivers cannot be left unchallenged. The continued perpetuation of these disparities will only serve to pit workers against each other. This situation clearly demonstrates that the outsourcing of government services to a private company by the city is not a working model. The city must take it upon itself to provide full employment to these drivers so that it can be responsible for the determination of the employees working conditions.

We therefore call upon the Johannesburg Metro Management to intervene urgently to bring about a speedy resolution to this matter because a prolonged strike is not in the interest of the public, commuters, workers and management itself. The employer must come back to the negotiating table and desist from using the courts to resolve issues that are subject to a bargaining process.

We remain committed to an efficient, reliable and safe public transport system. We are therefore convinced that the democratic state should take a lead as the custodian of the people`s manifesto.

Finally, we call upon the Provincial Government and Johannesburg Metro to find an immediate solution to the unrests in Thembelihle informal settlement. This situation cannot be left unattended as it poses a danger to destabilize the province. In the same breath, we condemn in all strongest sense acts of violence by the protesters because such acts have a potential to undermine their legitimate struggle.

Issued by the SACP Gauteng Province

Contact – Provincial Secretary: Jacob Mamabolo (0828841868)
Provincial Spokesperson: Pat Ntsobi (0726714258)