Penwell Dlamini and Dudu Busani

Penwell Dlamini and Dudu Busani

"Please be advised that all scheduled coaches from Johannesburg to Durban and vice versa will be operating as normal."

This is a huge sign outside the SA Roadlink offices in Johannesburg despite the reported withdrawal of the company's operating licence this week.

Employees were still selling tickets for next week, despite KwaZulu-Natal transport MEC Bheki Cele's announcement that their buses would stop operating from today.

Passengers were busy buying tickets from Johannesburg to Durban and to other parts of the country, while the company and Cele sent out conflicting messages.

"Look at the notice, it's business as usual, the newspapers were wrong as always," said one of the tellers.

However, a man donning a Roadlink uniform was apparently deployed there to reassure people who kept asking if the reports were true.

Passengers told Sowetan they were continuing with their journeys because they could not get refunds from the bus company.

"I'm scared, but I don't have a choice because I cannot get a refund and I don't have money to buy another ticket," said Tumi Kgaile, one of the customers.

But some were adamant that accidents were beyond the company's control.

"I am going to Durban at 10am tomorrow [today] because there is no beach here in Johannesburg," said John Solomon, one of the passengers.

"I am not scared because I believe God's protection is upon my life," said Solomon.

Meanwhile, as Sowetan visited the SA Roadlink bus terminal, one of the buses was being towed away from Park Station.

The reason for the towing could not be verified.