Cape Town - A driver from a long-distance coach company Intercape was shot and critically wounded outside the company’s depot in Airport Industria on Sunday evening.
According to police spokesperson, Warrant Officer Joseph Swartbooi, Bishop Lavis police attended an incident on Sunday at the corner of Morris Close and Montreal Road in Airport Industria at around 6.30pm.
“Upon arrival at the scene, they saw a passenger bus, standing in the road. According to reports the driver and his assistant were on their way to Cape Town to load passengers when two unknown suspects approached the intersection, firing gunshots in their direction.
“One of the victims sustained injuries from gunshot wounds and was transferred to a nearby hospital for medical treatment.”
He added the motive for the attack was unknown and the unknown suspects who fled the scene in an undisclosed direction were yet to be arrested.
“Bishop Lavis police are investigating a case of attempted murder,” said Swartbooi.
The driver was rushed to hospital and underwent emergency surgery after being struck by a bullet. He is currently in a stable condition.
In April, 35-year-old Intercape bus driver Bangikhaya Machana died in hospital days after being shot and critically wounded outside the company’s depot.
In the space of just 13 months, there have been over 150 recorded violent incidents, a number of which have led to serious injuries to employees and passengers of the bus operators in the long-distance coach industry.
Intercape CEO Johann Ferreira said: “We are grateful to the Western Cape MEC for transport Daylin Mitchell and MEC of Police Oversight and Community Safety Reagen Allen for taking up this issue.
“We have pleaded with the national ministers of transport and police, as well as President Cyril Ramaphosa, to urgently intervene to stop this but to date have not received a response.”
He said despite more than 124 cases having been opened with police, especially in the Eastern Cape, there has still not been a single arrest made linked to this campaign of violence, which they find completely unacceptable.
“The attacks are a result of a violent campaign waged against the industry by rogue taxi associations that seek to force long-distance coach companies out of operating in certain regions and routes across South Africa.”
MEC Mitchell condemned the attack.
“The continued brazen attacks on long-distance buses constitute (an) organised crime, perpetrated by a criminal element, reportedly with links to the minibus taxi industry.
“When I first heard about the reported spike in attacks on buses on routes between the Western Cape and the Eastern Cape and Gauteng, I have taken steps to ensure that the matter has been brought to the attention of relevant authorities in the security and enforcement environment for the urgent co-ordination of investigations and interventions.”
Mitchell said he instructed 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.
“The Western Cape government will not condone criminal acts of extortion, and will not negotiate with nor try to appease criminals, and will not allow the rule of law to be compromised.”