Rea Vaya, Johannesburg’s bus rapid transit system, was forced to suspend operations on Monday after drivers at the Meadowlands depot in Soweto staged a protest.
Rea Vaya drivers refuse to work over bus safety concerns
The drivers said they are no longer willing to drive buses that are not safe and do not have valid licence discs.
The protest led to a full shutdown of Rea Vaya services, affecting thousands of commuters who rely on the buses to get to work, school, and other daily activities. The bus company posted an update on social media advising people to find other ways to travel, stating:
“Rea Vaya bus service remains suspended… We apologise for the inconvenience.”
According to SowetanLive, the protest began early in the morning when drivers used one of the buses to block the entrance gate at the depot. This meant no buses could leave, even those that were in good condition.
The drivers say they were left with no choice after their complaints were ignored for a long time.
One driver, speaking anonymously, explained the main issue:
“We cannot continue operating with expired licence discs and buses that don’t have handbrakes or lights.”
He added that when they get stopped by traffic officers or are involved in accidents, they are forced to pay the fines themselves before trying to claim the money back from the company.
Often, the company does not refund them.
The protesting drivers claim some buses have licence discs that expired as far back as 2022. A licence disc is a document that shows a vehicle is legally allowed to be on the road. If it is expired, the vehicle is not considered roadworthy and should not be used for public transport.
Other problems raised by drivers include mechanical faults such as missing handbrakes, broken lights, and other issues that make the buses unsafe. These conditions put both drivers and passengers at risk, according to the drivers.
Commuters caught off guard and left stranded
Many passengers were not aware of the suspension until they arrived at their usual bus stops and found no buses running.
Morning rush hour was particularly chaotic, with people scrambling to find taxis or other forms of transport.
Rea Vaya confirmed that services were halted due to the blockade and said they are speaking with the operating companies to resolve the issue.
The City of Johannesburg said in a short message on X (formerly Twitter):
“Buses have been blocked from leaving the depot. We are in contact with operating companies to establish the problem.”
At the time of writing, there is no confirmed timeline for when Rea Vaya services will resume.