Bus company ignores safety protocols - union
9 July 2009, 18:06
Passenger safety is not a priority for SA Roadlink managers, the Transport and Omnibus Workers' Union (Towu) claimed on Thursday.
Drivers were forced to drive for long hours without taking time to rest, the union's secretary-general Gary Wilson said in a statement.
"Drivers are working one per bus instead of two. For example, in a Johannesburg to Cape Town trip, drivers drive continuously in excess of 12 hours without a rest period," he claimed.
His statement followed the deaths of seven people, including a child, outside Beaufort West on Tuesday morning when a Roadlink bus left the N1 and overturned.
Traffic authorities had initially reported that eight people were killed in the accident, but Western Cape police said only seven bodies had been found.
Captain David de Klerk said they were investigating seven cases of culpable homicide.
Fifty other people, including the driver, were injured in the accident during a trip from Johannesburg to Cape Town, said de Klerk.
At the time, Western Cape traffic spokesperson Xenophone Wentzel said there was a possibility the driver had fallen asleep.
According to Wilson drivers pushed on even when feeling sleepy, due to their employment status.
"Drivers are not earning a basic salary. They are being regarded as casual drivers, so that also means no work no pay, and this is just another way of intimidating workers."
He said the drivers were unable to lodge complaints as they were "continuously intimidated" for joining the union.
"How many more people must die before the government takes action against SA Roadlink? We applaud the KwaZulu-Natal government for taking action against SA Roadlink. It's time all provinces take the same stand."
All attempts to contact SA Roadlink spokesperson Mapaseka Mashele since 8am on Thursday had been unsuccessful. A woman who answered her landline after 4pm said she was in a meeting.
Mashele on Wednesday said the driver had tried to give way to a truck tailgating him.
"At this stage, the bus driver was on a piece of gravel road, and it caused the coach to overturn. The driver did not fall asleep."
She said all the company's drivers were experienced and had taken advanced courses.
The bus sent to pick up stranded passengers after Tuesday's accident was also found to be unroadworthy.
"It was tested unroadworthy at a local municipality testing station. There were problems with the brakes, the engine cap was not fitted properly," said the town's traffic chief Willie van Rooyen on Thursday. - Sapa
Drivers were forced to drive for long hours without taking time to rest, the union's secretary-general Gary Wilson said in a statement.
"Drivers are working one per bus instead of two. For example, in a Johannesburg to Cape Town trip, drivers drive continuously in excess of 12 hours without a rest period," he claimed.
His statement followed the deaths of seven people, including a child, outside Beaufort West on Tuesday morning when a Roadlink bus left the N1 and overturned.
Traffic authorities had initially reported that eight people were killed in the accident, but Western Cape police said only seven bodies had been found.
Captain David de Klerk said they were investigating seven cases of culpable homicide.
Fifty other people, including the driver, were injured in the accident during a trip from Johannesburg to Cape Town, said de Klerk.
At the time, Western Cape traffic spokesperson Xenophone Wentzel said there was a possibility the driver had fallen asleep.
According to Wilson drivers pushed on even when feeling sleepy, due to their employment status.
"Drivers are not earning a basic salary. They are being regarded as casual drivers, so that also means no work no pay, and this is just another way of intimidating workers."
He said the drivers were unable to lodge complaints as they were "continuously intimidated" for joining the union.
"How many more people must die before the government takes action against SA Roadlink? We applaud the KwaZulu-Natal government for taking action against SA Roadlink. It's time all provinces take the same stand."
All attempts to contact SA Roadlink spokesperson Mapaseka Mashele since 8am on Thursday had been unsuccessful. A woman who answered her landline after 4pm said she was in a meeting.
Mashele on Wednesday said the driver had tried to give way to a truck tailgating him.
"At this stage, the bus driver was on a piece of gravel road, and it caused the coach to overturn. The driver did not fall asleep."
She said all the company's drivers were experienced and had taken advanced courses.
The bus sent to pick up stranded passengers after Tuesday's accident was also found to be unroadworthy.
"It was tested unroadworthy at a local municipality testing station. There were problems with the brakes, the engine cap was not fitted properly," said the town's traffic chief Willie van Rooyen on Thursday. - Sapa
Cape Town
