Cape Town station was quiet in the morning rush-hour on Wednesday as a strike by three transport unions brought the Metrorail train service to a virtual standstill.
Metrorail spokesperson Riana Scott said only 20 trains were running in the entire system, cutting the usual commuter service to a minimum.
Announcements at the station told commuters that most services had been cancelled.
The situation was expected to improve once peak commuting hours were over.
Three unions, the SA Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu), the United Transport and Allied Trade Union (Utatu) and the United Association of SA (Uasa) are taking part in the strike over Transnet’s restructuring plans.
The programme will see non-core businesses disposed of. Workers in the Northern and Western Cape have downed tools, following rolling strikes that began in the Free State and KwaZulu-Natal earlier this month.
Union members are to march to Parliament on Wednesday to present memorandums outlining their grievances to the Department of Public Enterprises and Transnet management.
However, Evan Abrahamse, regional Satawu spokesperson, said the train strike might affect the number of supporters attending the march.
”With the trains off-line, we’ll have to see how many people pitch,” he said.
”We believe the march will be well supported, but it will be difficult for people to get there. We’re hoping to stop Transnet’s attitude of going ahead with the restructuring without the agreement of workers.”
Abrahamse said the time frame for restructuring should be re-visited and proper consultation with union members should be allowed.
Chris de Vos of Utatu said the level of support for the protest action was ”a crystal ball situation”, as it was difficult to get members involved.
”Some members argue that they are in a safe environment and won’t be affected by the restructuring, but others see the strike as a sympathy strike and will be prepared to participate,” he said.
De Vos expected about 5 000 workers to participate in the strike. – Sapa