The South African transport sector is reeling from a brazen attack on Public Utility Transport Corporation(PUTCO) buses, with Transport Minister Barbara Creecy and Deputy Minister Mkhuleko Hlengwa vehemently condemning the arson that saw 50 buses destroyed on the night of January 27.
According to PUTCO spokesperson Lindokuhle Xulu, a group of armed intruders launched a well-coordinated assault on the Moloto depot, binding security personnel before setting the fleet ablaze.
It is explained that the incident, described as economic sabotage, poses a significant threat to the mobility of thousands of commuters in Mpumalanga and beyond, where PUTCO operates a vital service for about 200 000 passengers daily.
The destruction was not limited to one location; it spread across various depots, including Wolwekraal, Siyabuswa, and Vaalbank, culminating in total devastation throughout the night.
As news broke of the attack, Creecy and Hlengwa emphasised the serious repercussions this incident could have on daily commuters, particularly those travelling as far as Gauteng.
Fearing a disastrous impact on the workforce's mobility, they have called for urgent discussions with Natjoint, the national joint operational and intelligence structure, to develop a comprehensive response to such attacks.
Creecy has underscored the need for law enforcement to pursue every avenue in their investigation to ensure justice is served while the community waits anxiously for answers and effective remedies to their public transport woes.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) in Mpumalanga reported significant progress in the investigation, revealing the arrest of two suspects, aged 29 and 37, linked to the arson.
Acting Provincial Commissioner Major General Zeph Mkhwanazi acknowledged that the attackers appeared to have planned their assault meticulously, as they arrived in multiple vehicles.
The GOOD party has expressed outrage, condemning the attackers for inflicting injuries on security personnel simply trying to protect their workplace.
“This was no random act of hooliganism; it was a devastating, premeditated act of violence,” their statement asserted.
The party says with each bus valued at an estimated R125 million, the challenge of replacing such a fleet is daunting, especially for a community heavily reliant on these services for transportation and employment.
MISA, the Motor Industry Staff Association, has called for the establishment of a special task team dedicated to apprehending the perpetrators, labelling the attacks as sinister and premeditated.
“The people in areas like Kwa-Mahlangu, Moloto, and Hammanskraal have endured unreliable transport options for far too long. With rising transport costs, they can ill afford this latest setback,” stated MISA's Chief Executive Officer: Operations, Martlé Keyter.
Keyter says this precarious situation is exacerbated by the ongoing woes of the beleaguered North West Star bus service, which has been unable to operate effectively.
Saturday Star