The Western Cape Government has condemned yet another attack on an Intercape Bus.
A gunman opened fire on an Intercape bus on Jakes Gerwel Drive yesterday (Sunday) as the bus was on route to the CBD long distance rank where it was to load passengers.
The driver was shot and injured and is recovering in hospital. Two other occupants in the bus were unharmed.
In August, Premier Alan Winde wrote to President Ramaphosa to request an urgent meeting and coordinated intervention at national level to combat extortion and racketeering in the public transport sector.
Public transport is already in a shocking state generally, we cannot allow criminals to bring anarchy to the bus industry too. Tens of thousands of citizens will be taking to the roads in the coming days. They deserve safe transport. I will be meeting with Intercape management this week. We will offer them support wherever we can.
Western Cape MEC of Mobility, Daylin Mitchell said the continued brazen attacks on long distance buses constitute organised crime, perpetrated by a criminal element.
“I have instructed our officials to check and verify all long distance bus operating licences and to impound all vehicles that are operating without- or contrary to the conditions of operating licences. I have reiterated my instruction to Provincial Traffic to monitor long distance bus operations and, with the support of the SAPS, be on the lookout for any ‘patrol vehicles’ that illegally stop and extort buses and other private vehicles along key routes between the Western Cape and neighbouring provinces. The Western Cape Government will not condone criminal acts of extortion, will not negotiate with – nor try to appease criminals, and will not allow the rule of law to be compromised. Our first priority will always be to ensure the safety of commuters – and we will support every effort to root out the small criminal element that seeks to hijack the public transport industry for their own criminal agenda.”
Last month, Intercape slammed Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula for his “continued failure to address the life-threatening situation affecting the long-distance coach industry in South Africa.”
In papers filed with the High Court in Makhanda in the Eastern Cape, Intercape pointed to Mbalula’s “ongoing disregard for the seriousness of the issues at hand which concern life-threatening and endemic acts of violence and intimidation”.
This was contained in an affidavit by Intercape CEO Johann Ferreira in response to an earlier court order that the Minister of Transport and MEC for Transport in the Eastern Cape work with police to come up with a plan of action to secure the safety of Intercape coaches, passengers and employees.
There have been over 150 recorded violent incidents, including shootings, stonings and acts of intimidation directed at Intercape and other long-distance operators, allegedly by rogue taxi associations intent on forcing long-distance coach companies out of operating in certain regions and routes across South Africa.
Intercape says the Eastern Cape is the epicentre of this campaign of violence.
