Buses block Durban streets

2009-06-29 12:48

Durban - Buses blocked various streets in Durban on Monday, causing traffic chaos, metro police said.

"Buses have been parked at a number of streets in Durban and our members are busy trying to remove them,” said Superintendent Joyce Khuzwayo.

She said some buses had been parked on the busy N2 freeway causing a serious traffic jam.

It is believed that drivers were showing their frustration because their employer Remant Alton will stop operating on Tuesday.

Cease operations

Durban's beleaguered bus operator informed the city two weeks ago that it would cease operations from June 30 due to financial problems.

The municipality privatised the municipal fleet in 2003 because the National Land Transport Transition Act stipulated that municipalities with transport authorities, such as eThekwini, should not themselves run buses.

Since 2003, the bus company had been accused of failing to provide efficient public transport and the city had bailed it out financially several times.

In 2008, eThekwini spent R405m buying back buses and equipment from the underperforming operator. This was in terms of an agreement where Remant Alton would continue operating the service but the council would own the fleet.

- SAPA