Pupils miss first day of school
More than 100 buses were on standby to operate the school run on Monday morning, but many pupils were left stranded, waiting in queues.
They either had to walk or find alternative transport to get to their classrooms.
In some suburbs bus stops were empty as commuters anticipated no services.
Although the bus operator which has taken over from the ailing Remant Alton was “geared up” and had a substantial number of drivers to operate the scholar service, it was unclear on Sunday night if this would happen as planned.
However by 7.30am on Monday, pupils in some Durban suburbs stood waiting in queues, but there were no buses.
The new operator, Tansnat South Africa, said the school service was the first priority and that the company hoped to run a full complement of services by Wednesday.
This depended on the outcome of a court case at the Pietermaritzburg High Court this morning.
Several other bus operators are seeking an interdict against eThekwini Municipality and the KZN Transport Department preventing the transfer of the previous Remant Alton contract to Tansnat.
It is believed they are claiming that the appointment of the new operator was not transparent.
“We are just carrying on as if nothing is happening. There is not much work to be done, but it will all depend on what transpires in court,” said Mike Jesserman, chief executive of Tansnat.
The Transport and Allied Workers Union of SA, representing the former Remant Alton drivers, says the new operator should not begin work until several issues have been cleared up.
The union is calling for all of the drivers, and not just 80 percent of them, to be employed by Tansnat.
Zack Mankge, the union’s general secretary, said last night that 200-300 people would lose their jobs.
Jesserman said Tansnat had a totally different way of operating to Remant Alton and that there would be a considerable reduction in staff.
Jesserman and Mankge are due to meet on Monday.
Source: IOL
admin @ July 21, 2009