No trains running in Gauteng
2008-08-06 11:21
Johannesburg - Metrorail has suspended all trains operating in Gauteng as the Congress of SA Trade Unions embarked on a national strike on Wednesday.
"There are no trains running in Gauteng, obviously due to no staff," said national Metrorail spokesperson Sibusiso Ngomane.
"We will review the situation at 14:00 and we might be able to run some trains in the afternoon subject to staff availability," he added.
Metrorail was running services on a "very limited scale" in the rest of the country, he said.
A Sapa reporter at Park Station in Johannesburg said there were no trains running between Johannesburg and Pretoria.
Metrorail officials at the station said the service between Johannesburg and Pretoria had been suspended from 09:00 to 14:00.
Strike 'pointless'
About 1 000 commuters at the station had been left stranded at the station, including a group of 100 protesters wearing red Cosatu T-shirts who had hoped to travel to Pretoria to participate in a march there.
"I don't know how to get to work and there is a possibility that I might get into trouble with my boss. I've been standing here for close to four hours waiting for the train," said Joseph Ndlovu, 36, adding that he did not own a cellphone and could not let his office know he was running late.
Another commuter, Mike Sibonang, 20, said he believed the strike was pointless.
"Before we strike we should think carefully. There is no use for everyone to start striking. There should be a certain number of people who go to the government and speak to them. Not everyone should strike," said Sibonang.
- SAPA