Commuters left stranded by a bus drivers’ strike torched a bus and two cars at the Belle Ombre train station, Pretoria, on Wednesday evening.
About 1 500 people were at the station when the bus was set alight, Pretoria emergency services spokesperson Johan Pieterse said.
”They set one bus alight, which was totally burnt out, and threw stones at our vehicles.”
Police have opened a case of malicious damage to property and are monitoring the situation, said Pretoria spokesperson Captain Piletji Sebola.
Around 800 bus drivers employed by the Northwest Star company began striking the Waltloo, Batswana Gare, Botlhaba and Pretoria West depots on Wednesday afternoon.
The drivers say they are intimidated by management and have to drive unroadworthy and unlicensed buses, said South African Transport and Allied Workers Union regional secretary Harry Masindi.
Commuters travelling to townships in Ga-Rankuwa, Hammanskraal and Mabopane have now been left with transport.
Masindi said the strike would continue on Thursday unless management agreed to meet with drivers. – Sapa