By Charmel Bowman and Chris Makhaye
What recourse do bus passengers have if they see the driver falling asleep or driving recklessly? As a "captive" observer - almost nothing, and KwaZulu-Natal's MEC for transport, Bheki Cele, says it is time for change.
"In view of what has happened, there is an urgent need for a hotline to be set up so bus passengers can voice their concerns," he said.
Cele said a centralised information centre where complaints could be dealt with and acted upon would be very useful. If these calls were recorded, they would also provide evidence of any breach in the public transport rules.
He said his department had been turned into a call centre since the recent SA Roadlink crash, with hundreds of calls from people worried about travelling by bus, especially during this busy festive period.
He said all bus operators, and not only SA Roadlink, would have to be looked at.
This week, Cele withdrew SA Roadlink's permit, saying the company's buses were "coffins on wheels" because of a string of deadly accidents. On Friday, the Pietermaritzburg High Court overturned the ban.
SA Roadlink drivers and porters who spoke to the Sunday Tribune on condition of anonymity this week claimed the company was not concerned about passenger safety.
"To run a profitable enterprise they (company management) compromise the safety of passengers," said one driver.
"We often have to work for up to 38 hours without rest. This is because there is no basic salary here. We get paid according to the hours we work, so overtime ensures we take home something extra."
The driver said, "They push us to the limit. For example, the driver who was involved in that accident (on Tuesday morning) had driven from Johannesburg to Cape Town. In Cape Town, he was told to drive to Durban, without having any rest."
SA Roadlink maintains that passenger safety is their main priority, despite their accident record. There have been at least six accidents involving Roadlink buses in the past two years, resulting in 27 deaths and nearly 200 injuries.
Herman Steyn, risk manager for SA Roadlink, said measures had been taken to ensure passenger safety.
"We have introduced a number of measures to ensure the safety of our passengers, including ensuring our vehicles are roadworthy. Our entire fleet underwent voluntary roadworthy tests at government testing stations in preparation for the holiday season," he said.
SA Roadlink chief executive, Allan Reddy, said he felt the company was being victimised by the media.
"Many other bus operators have had accidents, but why are we singled out? The accident on Tuesday is still being investigated. However, opinions have been formed and we have already been found guilty."
He said accidents were a liability for any bus operator and the accidents involving his company were not caused by negligence.
"Our drivers are well trained and undergo continuous training programmes to try to improve on our high level of safety.
"When you compare the accident record of SA Roadlink with that of other bus operators, it is similar."
He denied claims made by drivers that they had to work 36-hour shifts, saying that was simply not true.
"Every trip is scheduled in advance. Time spent on the bus and driving time behind the wheel are different things. We also have two co-drivers for every shift."
The SA Roadlink website lists the company's safety initiatives, which include checking coaches before every trip, limiting a driver to 48 hours a week behind the wheel with mandatory rest periods of 12 hours in between shifts.
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