Intercape chief executive Johann Ferreira has described the denial of bail to seven alleged members of a bus extortion syndicate as a “significant moment” for every South African who depends on safe, reliable public transport.
Speaking after a Cape Town court refused to release the accused, Ferreira said the company’s drivers, passengers and staff had lived “under the shadow of orchestrated violence and extortion” for more than five years.
“There have been over 225 recorded incidents against Intercape buses since January 2021 alone. These were not random acts. They were a deliberate, coordinated criminal enterprise designed to extort money from legitimate businesses and terrorise the people we serve,” he said.
The seven accused face 156 charges including racketeering, extortion, kidnapping, money laundering and interference with essential infrastructure. Magistrate Reaz Khan ruled they had failed to demonstrate their release would be in the interests of justice and found there was a likelihood they would intimidate witnesses if released.
Ferreira welcomed the court’s decision as “the correct outcome” but criticised the lack of political leadership in addressing what he described as urban terrorism against public transport operators.
“It is a matter of public record that Intercape was compelled to bring 14 Supreme Court applications simply to pressure the State and SAPS to fulfil their constitutional obligations,” he said.
“That no senior political leader, including the President, saw fit to publicly condemn what amounted to urban terrorism against a legitimate public transport operator and its passengers is a failure of leadership this country cannot afford to repeat.”
The accused, Bonke Makalala, Simphiwe Mtshala, Mzuvukile Mbiyo, Siyanda Dyantyti, Gwendoline Mazele, Siphelele Kwaza and Simphiwe Gxumayo, allegedly ran a protection racket targeting long-distance bus operators travelling between the Eastern Cape and Western Cape.
The State alleges the group demanded protection fees from bus operators including Intercape, Eagle Liner, Greyhound/Aldo Coaches, Chilwans Transport, Vila Mora/Intercity and Williams Transport in exchange for allowing buses to operate safely on routes shared with taxi operators.
Senior State Advocate Nico Breyl told the court the accused enforced compliance through threats, intimidation and violence, disrupting operations through attacks on buses and threats directed at passengers. The investigation, conducted under Project Tsitsikama, allegedly uncovered links to taxi associations including CATA, CODETA, UNCEDO and the Natal Spruit Taxi Association.
Ferreira expressed gratitude to the prosecution team for their work on the case.
“We want to express our sincere gratitude to Senior State Advocate Nico Breyl, Warrant Officer J.C. September, Colonel Hanana and the entire NPA prosecution team. Their dedication to this case has been exceptional,” he said.
“We also acknowledge the courage of every complainant and witness who came forward. Justice delayed should never become justice denied.”
NPA regional communications manager Eric Ntabazalila said the State’s case was built on complainant affidavits, corroborating witness statements, financial and banking records, communication evidence and information obtained from the Financial Intelligence Centre and the South African Revenue Service.
“This points to a sustained and coordinated pattern of organised criminal conduct rather than isolated incidents,” Ntabazalila said.
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The accused were arrested between 27 and 29 March. Makalala did not apply for bail, while his six co-accused argued their release would be in the interests of justice, claiming they would not endanger public safety or evade trial. Most are involved in the taxi industry, while Mazele operates a funeral business.
The matter was postponed to 20 July.
Ferreira said Intercape would continue to cooperate fully with the State as the case progresses.
“To our passengers: you deserve to travel safely. We will not rest until that is guaranteed on every route we operate,” he said.
The charges against the accused also include contraventions of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act and failure to submit tax returns in contravention of the Tax Administration Act 28 of 2011.
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