Tshwane Bus Service has confirmed that operations continue to be disrupted by an unlawful protest action that started on Thursday afternoon. According to Tshwane, the disruptions are caused by a strike by bus drivers who were previously dismissed. This comes after 33 bus drivers were dismissed for participating in an unprotected strike in May this year.
“This comes after an illegal protest by a group of dismissed bus drivers believed to be members of the South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU,” said The City of Tshwane.
“Yesterday, they closed the gates of the city’s C De Wet Bus Depot and forcefully evicted management from the premises. They also allegedly threatened their co-workers who are willing to honour their shifts,” added The City of Tshwane.
The city further stated that this morning, a few of the dismissed drivers entered the C De Wet Depot and harassed officials, confiscated the register, and shredded it.
“The protesting group is disputing the disciplinary committee’s dismissal verdict after they appeared before the city’s committee last month, in October 2024,” the city explained.
“The disruptions have now spread to the city’s Pretoria North and East Lynne Depots, despite yesterday’s criminal case filed against them for intimidating their co-workers. The city is currently opening another case of intimidation, with an additional count of trespassing against the protesters.”
The city has confirmed that they have now approached the Johannesburg Labour Court to seek an urgent interdict to declare the strike unlawful and to restrain the dismissed drivers from coming closer to or entering any of the city’s bus depots.
“This comes after the city has failed in its attempts to dissuade the protesters from continuing with the unlawful protest action. The matter is expected to be heard this evening or tomorrow,” the City stated.
