Long-haul buses under attack: 300 cases open, but not a single arrest

LONG-haul bus drivers and their passengers have been under attack for years. Yet despite at least 300 cases having been reported to the police by just two major bus companies, not a single arrest has been made to date.

The situation has drawn the attention of the Parliamentary Committee on Police, which has instructed the South African Police Service (SAPS) to provide regular updates on the progress of investigations into the numerous cases of attack and extortion that are currently open.

According to official records, the Intercape bus company has seen over 170 violent attacks in the past decade. This includes ambushes, passenger robberies, and even the murder of one of its drivers.

Intercape says that despite having provided the police with video footage, witness statements and number plates of vehicles involved, its pleas for protection have mostly been ignored. It is alleged that some perpetrators have been identified as taxi operators.

Furthermore, over 100 Golden Arrow buses have been set alight in the past 18 months, mostly in the Western Cape. These have been linked to public protests as well as alleged actions by taxi operators 

It is also reported that fewer than 10% of the dockets handed to the Hawks (DPCI) were even considered for prosecution, and those were eventually declined, too.

Parliament's Committee on Police remains highly concerned by the lack of feedback from police and the lack of action against the masterminds behind these attacks.

Worse still, there are allegations that some SAPS members are becoming extortionists themselves by demanding ‘protection fees’.

Extorsions from other parties have also proven to be a major constraint to businesses in the sector, the committee said, following "fruitful" meetings with both aforementioned bus companies.

While it has acknowledged the intervention by some SAPS branches to provide escorts and police visibility, these are not sustainable in the long term.

As a result, the committee has called on police to implement intelligence-led policing that leads to these perpetrators being arrested. The force should also ensure that adequate resources are allocated to hotspot areas.

“While we acknowledge the comprehensive work done by the police to implement mitigating initiatives to protect bus companies and their commuters, it remains concerning that of the 300 cases reported between Golden Arrow and Intercape, no arrest has been made by the police,” said Ian Cameron, Chairperson of the committee. 

“What is even more worrying is that among the 300 cases, there is a murder case that has not been solved as yet. “The arrest and prosecution of perpetrators is the only logical deterrence against such cowardly acts, and the lack of movement in this regard is worrying,” Cameron added.