Commuters relying on buses find themselves in a predicament, as the week long national bus strike continues.

The situation has escalated to the point, where South African Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu) is calling on workers to down their keys and participate in a national strike. The strike is expected to take place tomorrow, April 25. The federation is expected to take to the streets in Bloemfontein, Port Elizabeth, Cape Town, Johannesburg and Polokwane.

Hoping to bring the country to a standstill, Saftu is protesting the proposed R20 per hour wage.

While bus drivers and Saftu protest for an increase, taxi drivers are currently ensuring that commuters reach their destination. “We have not been told to not drive, so we will continue working,” said one taxi driver who opted to remain anonymous.

A commuter claims she fears the protests might turn violent. “I saw two taxi drivers being hit with sjamboks earlier today (April 24) in Madadeni. But, I am not sure if it is linked to the strike or not.”

While bus drivers brace themselves for strike action tomorrow, what will happen to school children who rely on public transport?

St Dominics Newcastle will close for the day as a security precaution. Local government schools are expected to operate as per usual.

Newcastle SAPS spokesperson, Captain Jabulani Ncube, claims Newcastillians need not worry to much about the situation. He claims Newcastle is not to be affected by the situation, despite a text message doing the rounds warning people of potential violence.

“We have received information from a Provincial level, stating the message is a scam. While we will be vigilant, we are not expecting protests in Newcastle,” he explained.

However, reports have surfaced that the protests have taken a disruptive turn in places such as Durban where bus drivers have allegedly taken to burning tyres. Motorists and commuters are urged to practice caution and remain vigilant until the protest action comes to an end.