JOHANNESBURG, April 18 (Xinhua) -- Scores of commuters in Johannesburg were left stranded due to the bus strike on Wednesday.

The nationwide bus strike kicked off at 05:30 a.m., while taxi and rail operators braced for crowds and long queues. The strike came after talks between the union and the employers reached a standstill.

At least 50 bus companies are not operating across the country as the strike intensifies. Nationwide bus services such as MyCiTi in Cape Town, Putco, Rea Vaya and Gautrain bus service in Gauteng and Algoa Bus Company in the Port Elizabeth area are among those that downed their tools.

Bus drivers are demanding better pay and working hours.

The National Union of Metalworkers (Numsa) of SA, which has members in the bus sector, are demanding 12 percent increase but their employers are willing to offer 7.5 percent.

Other demands included a subsistence allowance for drivers who did long distance travel, and were forced to sleep out.

"Numsa wants to inform the public that the decision to embark on a strike was not taken lightly. In fact, we took this decision as a last resort," union's general secretary, Irvin Jim told Xinhua in a telephone interview from Pretoria.

He urged bosses to return to the negotiating table as soon as possible for a quick settlement.

A Johannesburg woman, only identified as Betty, said her employers told her to stay at home for her safety as the bus strike continues.

"I'm considering to stay at home," Betty said.

She does not live near a rail route, but Metrorail said it would monitor the situation and extend service times where possible.

A Wits university student who relies on passing trade at the Rea Vaya bus station said she would probably also stay at home for the day for her safety.

A cellphone repairman who works in Johannesburg central Business district (CBD) said he would make the call on Thursday morning whether it would be safe for him to go into work next to the bus station.

"I will first and foremost make a call and then decide," he said.

Xinhua heard it on good authority that negotiations to resolve the bus drivers' pay dispute could start on Thursday at the Commission for Conciliation Mediation and Arbitration(CCMA).

"We hope to start at the CCMA on Thursday," said Gary Wilson, secretary general of the South African Road Passenger Bargaining Council on Tuesday afternoon.