After 37 years of long, scenic trips across all corners of South Africa, Greyhound has announced the end of its journey.
Greyhound, Citiliner goes out of business
The bus service delivered the news on Wednesday, bringing an end to a legacy of affordable long-distance travel it shared with Citiliner, its sister service that will also be halting its fleet.
“It has been our pleasure connecting you across Southern Africa for the past 37 years. Thank you to all our passengers for your continued support,” Greyhound wrote in a statement.
Travellers will still be able to use Greyhound and Citiliner bus services until Valentine’s Day. Anyone with tickets booked for dates after 14 February 2021 will be refunded, the company confirmed.
Announcement: Greyhound and Citiliner are closing operations. Services will run until 14 February 2021. Passengers with tickets booked for services after this date will be refunded. For assistance with refunds, contact Call Centre: 087 352 0352 or email: [email protected]. pic.twitter.com/n6kFJ0uQaO
— Greyhound (@GreyhoundRSA) February 3, 2021
What will happen to the workers?
The transportation group would not reveal the fate of its workforce. The most logical supposition is that thousands of its staff detail will be dissolved into South Africa’s growing unemployed population.
The Covid-19 pandemic has, once more, moulded a South African household name. Ster-Kinekor, in a statement released last week, noted that it has entered voluntary business rescue after recording consecutive monthly losses in revenue, since February 2020.
Another legacy retail giant Musica, owned by Clicks Group, will cease to exist in a little less than four months.
Social media reflects on treasured moments
All this doom and gloom needed a lift and social media had an answer. Loyal customers of the bus service shared memories of those long journeys across the picturesque landscapes of South Africa and crossing paths with kind-hearted fellow travellers.
Here are some of the reactions to Greyhound’s announcement.
DBN – JHB
— Samkelisiwe Sebenzile Ngubane (@samke_ngubane) February 3, 2021
JHB – DBN
Back when I was in high school
My boyfriend and I would book the same bus to visit our relatives in Joburg during the holidays
The 8 hour trips would be our couple time since I was in boarding school -we couldn’t see eachother often #GreyHoundMemories
I was travelling from Jhb to Ght when the driver got lost just before Queenstown and somehow we ended up stuck in snow between Molteno and some other small town. Jonga, the moment we realised there was snow, we jumped out of the bus and started making snow angels! pic.twitter.com/pfbWJs3M0A
— The Queen (@Zandy_Kay) February 3, 2021
My mother in law's son and I met at Bosman station,took Greyhound bus to eastern cape
— Lawazana (@nkentshazana) February 3, 2021
Back in 2014 I slept on the pavement in Kimberley. My 11pm bus never arrived and only got an sms at 12 midnight that they’re having technical issues and there’ll be an 8 hour delay, mxm. I was supposed to arrive in Jhb at 6am then catch another greyhound to Plk.
— Mokgatla Molepo *Avifaunal Specialist* (@Mokgatla_Mora) February 3, 2021
In 2012 I travelled from PE-JHB. I sat next to a lady who introduced herself as a lay-preacher. A few minutes later, a discussion based on John 1:1 ensued… Sayixubusha sade sayongena eRhawutini literally. Even though we did not agree, the respect and humour in that convo…
— Aphiwe kaNgunge (@aphiwe_ng) February 3, 2021