Commuters warned of national, planned bus strike

Listen to the full bulletin below. 

Metalworkers union, Numsa says the planned strike in the bus sector will affect passengers across the country - including KZN.

Numsa's Phakamile Hlube has listed the companies affected - which includes all workers represented by the union.

"Our strike is a national strike. We intend to take to the streets as of Wednesday, 12 April 2017. These are some of the bus companies that will be affected in this strike - Putco, Busco, Golden Arrow, Mega Bus, Mega Express, Rea Vaya and Greyhound," she said. 

She says workers will down tools over a number of grievances - including a wage dispute and working hours. 

ALSO READ: Fines will be issued after buses blocked Durban roads: Metro

Hlube says there will be various picketing points across our province and the rest of the country. She says however action can be averted but only if the companies' CEOs meet with them tonight to resolve the dispute. 

"In Gauteng, there will be hundreds if not thousands of members picketing at the various offices of various bus depots. I would expect that this would be the same in KZN as it would be in other regions as well as this is a national strike," she said. 

Speaking on behalf of Tansnat - who operated the municipal buses - labour lawyer Brian Denny said Durban buses will run as normal.

"I am instructed by Tansnat that tomorrow, the service will continue as normal and will not be affected by the protest action," he said. 

This comes as buses were abandoned on several key routes into and out of Durban last week, Friday - causing significant traffic delays.