Thousands of Cape Town passengers may be left without transport on Thursday as Golden Arrow bus drivers prepare for a strike set to begin at midnight. The strike is planned by the NUFAS union due to disagreements over disciplinary procedures.
The National Union of All Sectors (NUFAS) has notified that its members will cease work starting at midnight on Thursday, September 10, 2026, owing to a dispute with Golden Arrow regarding disciplinary measures. Golden Arrow urgently applied to the court to halt the strike and warned passengers about possible disruptions if it proceeds. The company apologized to passengers for the uncertainty and stated that it would provide information on the outcome of the legal proceedings on Wednesday, September 9, 2026.
Dispute over disciplinary warnings
John Dammerth, Head of Corporate Affairs and Human Resources at Golden Arrow, stated that the company disagrees with claims of unfair application of its disciplinary procedures. He emphasized that the company's policy is implemented in accordance with current labor legislation, collective agreements, established company procedures, and principles of procedural fairness.
Golden Arrow also reported that employees who believe a disciplinary action was applied unfairly have access to dispute resolution mechanisms through the South African Road Passenger Transport Negotiation Council. The company also stated its respect for the right of employees to lawful and peaceful industrial action. Dammerth noted that the company understands the vital role of its services in the daily lives of thousands of people across Cape Town and does not take potential disruptions lightly, but Golden Arrow cannot jeopardize the safety of its passengers, drivers, staff, or the public.
Previously, Golden Arrow made one unsuccessful attempt to prevent the threatened strike. A Labour Court ruling showed that the company had applied for a final injunction against NUFAS, but Judge Robert Daniels dismissed the application on September 1, as Golden Arrow failed to prove a clear right to the requested injunction. It is known that the dispute began last November.
NUFAS claims that drivers were previously issued a six-month final warning, followed by a 12-month final warning before dismissal. The union states that Golden Arrow changed this process to a six-month final warning followed by dismissal, which Golden Arrow denies. Following this, NUFAS announced its intention to go on strike on Thursday.
Union appeals to taxi associations
The union insists that attempts to resolve the dispute have failed and announced that it will oppose Golden Arrow's latest lawsuit. Buyo Lufule, Deputy General Secretary of NUFAS, stated: 'The strike is a last resort. All contacts we tried to establish with Golden Arrow have been unsuccessful.'
NUFAS also contacted the taxi associations CATA and CODETA to discuss increasing taxi capacity in case of service disruption by Golden Arrow. Golden Arrow promised to provide passengers with further information once the outcome of the legal proceedings is known.