Canaan Mdletshe

The strike by Durban bus drivers turned ugly yesterday when shots were fired at a bus full of passengers.

No one was injured, but the police have confirmed that the shooting was linked to the drivers' strike.

Yesterday was the second day that commuters in the city were stranded. The bus drivers are all members of South African Transport and Allied Workers' Union (Satawu).

The drivers have vowed to continue their strike until February 13.

Superintendent Muzi Mngomezulu confirmed that shots were fired at a bus travelling from Ntuzuma to Durban.

"The bullet went through the windscreen, but no one was hurt," said Mngomezulu.

Bus company Remnant Alton recently took over running the buses from the municipality.

The drivers went on strike on Monday complaining that their vehicles were in a state of disrepair. They are demanding payment of their 30percent dividends as shareholders in the black economic empowerment company.

They said that since Remnant Alton took over the management of the eThekwini metro buses problems had arisen repeatedly.

Joseph Dube, provincial secretary of Satawu, said some drivers were willing to go back to work but that management had locked them out.

"The drivers were returning to work as promised, but were locked out by the company, which had obtained an interim court interdict against them," Dube said.

The management of the bus company was not available for comment at the time of going to press.