When Mpho Lesemela paid about R1,300 for a Putco bus to provide transport at her sister’s funeral, she thought mourners would be sorted out.
But on Friday at 4pm, less than 24 hours before her sister’s funeral, she received a call from Putco indicating they would not be able to provide the service due to a strike.
Realising that there was very little she could do at the time, Lesemela, of Freedom Park, south of Johannesburg, did not even bother going to the Putco office as she was finalising preparations.
“The lady on the phone said they had tried to source the bus from elsewhere but did not succeed. She said even at 8.30pm, I could come and get the refund.
“I told her I am busy with preparations for the funeral. In fact, at 8pm when my sister’s body is at home, I could not get out to get a refund.
“The next day we had to spend R1,800 to get seven taxis [to transport mourners] because we had no option. Those taxis were not enough. I had to add four more taxis at R300 each.
“Even with those taxis, there were people who could not go to the cemetery because there was no space. We really suffered because of Putco. They could have informed us before Friday,” Lesemela said.
Lesemela went to the Putco offices in Dobsonville, Soweto, yesterday, accompanied by her uncle, but there was no one to help her with the refund because of the strike.
On September 1, workers at Putco went on an unprotected strike, demanding that the company pays the money it owed them in a 6% wage agreement and bonuses signed in 2020.
Putco applied for an urgent court interdict on Friday, and an interim order was granted, interdicting workers from striking.
The company then issued an ultimatum to the 1,000 striking workers to return to duty by 10am yesterday, which the employees did not comply with.
“Putco has since issued notices of intention to dismiss workers, who continue to participate in the illegal strike action, this morning,” said the bus company’s spokesperson Lindokuhle Xulu.
Xulu said Putco applied for exemption from the agreement in the SA Road Passenger Bargaining Council (SARPBAC) in 2020, due to Covid-19’s impact on the business.
A decision on this matter is before the Labour Court.
Meanwhile, commuters were not spared in the strike.
Lebo Cross, who uses the bus to travel between her home in Braamfischer to work in Centurion is counting the costs.
She spent about R1,200 for a monthly coupon but was forced to use her car as the buses are not available
“As I’m talking to you I’m going to Putco to get my refund. From Soweto to Centurion is far. If I use my car I will have to spend about R4,000 [a month]. You have to understand that I have spent money on other costs such as groceries. Now I will have to use my savings just to travel to work,” Cross said.
Phumlani Ndlovu, a representative for the workers, said: “The strike will continue until the employer feels the impact and comes back to renegotiate with us.”
dlaminip@sowetan.co.za
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