Pretoria - The ongoing strike by Metrobus drivers in Johannesburg does not look likely to end soon as talks reached a deadlock yesterday.
Metrobus drivers went on strike last Wednesday in protest against a new shift schedule - leaving thousands of commuters stranded.
The bus company said negotiations resumed yesterday, but seemed to be going nowhere at this stage.
Metrobus Managing Director, Herman van Laar, said: "Our negotiations reached deadlock despite us putting reasonable offers on the table for the striking bus drivers. We are all now considering taking new strategies to take this process forward."
He said they had decided to withdraw the services of their buses as some of the striking employees affiliated to the South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) turned violent.
Rea Vaya on Monday announced that its buses would not be operating any further services following an unprotected work stoppage by bus drivers.
Piotrans, the Bus Operating Company contracted to render the Rea Vaya bus services, have been unable to reach agreement with the bus drivers in their employ.
"We were concerned about the safety of our commuters and bus drivers who are not participating on this strike. We are, however, considering taking the legal route so as to resolve this issue as a matter of urgency," he said.
Passengers are able to get information from stations, Rea Vaya's Facebook, Twitter sites and the call centre before services are scheduled to resume tomorrow.
