Tshwane Bus Service suspended in Olievenhoutbosch due to protests

✔ Fact Checked by TDPel News Desk

By Samantha Allen

Published: March 18, 2022 | 11:54 AM

The City of Tshwane has suspended its bus service in Olievenhoutbosch until further notice due to protest action.

Residents in Oalievenhoutbosch, The Reeds and surrounding areas took to the streets to express their rage. Certain areas have been without electricity for over 4 days due to the ongoing strike by the City’s employees. According to the municipality, the striking workers have ensured that the non-striking employees are not able to restore power in these areas and deliver other services.

TSHWANE BUS SERVICE SUSPENDED IN OLIEVEN

The City of Tshwane said the Tshwane Bus Service has decided to withdraw operations in Olievenhoutbosch, south of the city on Friday until further notice due to the ongoing protest in the area.

“Last night, a Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD) vehicle was deployed in the area to monitor the protest. The vehicle was pelted with stones and damaged by community members, and this morning (Friday) after assessing the situation, we decided to suspend bus operations for the safety of our drivers, passengers as well as to safeguard our assets – the buses.”

City of Tshwane

@jsteenhuisen I am asking again why CoT are not able to sort out this illegal strike and stop these criminals holding us to ransom. 54 hours NO power, The Reeds, Centurion @Our_DA @CityTshwane @RekordNewspaper @tshwane_mayor

— Colleen Bowie (@collbowie) March 18, 2022

Reeds in Centurion is still out of Power. The guys from the location blocked N14 towards R55 n Oliven. We have been without power for 3 days now. We can’t work or do anything. Everyone has been trying to do follow ups but nothing. We are at risk n sleeping is a mission.

— Lunesh (@Yonela63537972) March 18, 2022

STRIKING EMPLOYEES DISRUPT SERVICE DELIVERY

City of Tshwane employees embarked on an illegal and unprotected strike on Monday 15 March 2022. The striking employees also reportedly blocked non-striking employees from going to work. The municipality said this is causing prolonged delays to the city’s ability to respond to some of the outages that are affecting parts of the city.

On Thursday, 17 March, the municipality established a Joint Operations Centre between the South African Police Services (SAPS) and Tshwane Metro Police to restore order and put an end to service delivery disruptions.

MMC for Community Safety, Ald Grandi Theunissen said the municipality cannot allow lawlessness to continue unabated.

“Through the Joint Operations Centre we have deployed law enforcement teams to monitor hotspot areas and ensure high police visibility. We also have teams on the ground protecting City infrastructure from any possible destruction.

“The City has also put in place surveillance measures to identify the instigators behind the illegal strike who are engaged in criminal activities such as destroying property and intimidating staff.”

City of Tshwane MMC for Safety, Ald Grandi Theunissen

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About Samantha Allen

Samantha Allen is a seasoned journalist and senior correspondent at TDPel Media, specializing in the intersection of maternal health, clinical wellness, and public policy. With a background in investigative reporting and a passion for data-driven storytelling, Samantha has become a trusted voice for expectant mothers and healthcare advocates worldwide. Her work focuses on translating complex medical research into actionable insights, covering everything from prenatal fitness and neonatal care to the socioeconomic impacts of healthcare legislation. At TDPel Media, Samantha leads the agency's health analytics desk, ensuring that every report is grounded in accuracy, empathy, and scientific integrity. When she isn't in the newsroom, she is an advocate for community-led wellness initiatives and an avid explorer of California’s coastal trails.