Cape Town - A large group of Joe Gqabi long-distance bus operators, supported by the Ses’khona People’s Rights Movement, marched to the Civic Centrev on Wednesday claiming they were being victimised by the city council.
After marching through the CBD, the protesters sang in front of the Civic Centre with passers-by looking on.
Bus operators chairman Ndodile Yekiwe said they marched to the mayor’s office to hand in their complaints about the city’s plans to conduct roadworthy checks in time for the Easter Weekend.
Bus drivers refuse safety checks
The City’s Richard Coleman says the checks, which are done every year, would commence next week.
“Every year this time lots of buses and taxis drive to other provinces,” Coleman said. “We do three roadworthy checks and the drivers have a gripe with the City because of this. Some of them don’t pass and that is why they don’t want us to carry out the tests.”
But Ses’khona secretary Loyiso Nkohla said the drivers were unhappy with the treatment they have been getting from the City.
“If a vehicle was tested in December then the certificate is valid for a year,” he said. “Why does it have to be tested again?
“The drivers are unhappy because the City is not doing this to the other bus companies such as Translux and Greyhound.
“If this was the case then SA Roadlink would not have had so many accidents,” he said.
He added the council official who was tasked with dealing with them caused division among their ranks because only one group was recognised at the bus terminus.
Bus owner Mzukisi Mooi said: “We don’t want him to ever set foot at Joe Gqabi again because what he is doing will lead to bloodshed.”
VICTIMISATION
He said they did not want to fight each other and asked for the council to delegate someone who was neutral.
Their memorandum of demands stated: “The official must be removed from Joe Gqabi if violence is to be averted.
“The interim committee that was unlawfully established must be dissolved and an all inclusive committee be elected, and all victimisation stopped.
“We demand equal treatment and fairness be accorded the respect we deserve just like any other business.”
Ses’khona’s Andile Lili said the bus terminus was theirs and did not belong to the council.
“Those buses transport us not the city council. They must stop abusing us.”
Another demand was the right to conduct business without harassment from law enforcement agencies.
“We don’t get permits to operate, law enforcement abuses and victimises us,” Yekiwe said.
The operators gave the mayor seven working days to respond to their demands, and Nkohla said they hoped to meet with City officials next week after handing over their memorandum.
Cape Argus, Daily Voice