The Eastern Cape Small Bus Operators’ Council (ECSBOC) was deeply concerned and expressed its disappointment over recurring incidents of arson targeting Africa’s Best 350 (Pty) Ltd (AB350) buses in the Eastern Cape Province.
Two buses were torched at Willowvale on Sunday night, while last Tuesday another three were torched at the Depo Bus Station in Butterworth.
According to ECSBOC (Eastern Cape Small Bus Operators’ Council) provincial secretary, Manelisi Siguqa, one of the members of ECSBOC, small bus operators had come together to establish AB350. He said that they find these attacks on critical transportation assets to be reprehensible and detrimental to the well-being of their communities and the entire transport sector.
“AB350 bus service was established with noble intentions to support families, create employment opportunities and provide essential transportation services to over 400 000 community members in the most rural parts of the Eastern Cape province,” said Siguqa.
He added that since its inception, these buses have experienced numerous acts of sabotage, resulting in a significant economic loss of more than R100 million and the destruction of seven buses since March 2023, bringing the total number of attacks to over 40 buses.
“In light of the ongoing attacks, ECSBOC urgently calls all relevant stakeholders, including the provincial government and SANTACO, to engage in productive dialogue and collaboration. We firmly believe that open communication and co-operation are key to finding a lasting solution.”
He added that ECSBOC is appealing to law enforcement agencies to intensify their efforts in ensuring community safety and combating crime.
Siguqa said they believe that by working together, they can create an environment that enables the safe and unhindered operation of safe, reliable and affordable bus services for the benefit of the communities they serve.
Recently, members of the South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO), together with the officials from the AB350 bus company, took a decision to establish a team that will be made up of these two industries in Mthatha.
This team was going to the areas where the AB350 buses had been torched to speak with community members, as well as members of the taxi industry, about the dangers of vandalising these buses.
Talking about this, engagement chairperson for SANTACO, Bishop Zola Yolelo, said that even though they do not know who is committing the attacks, they are appealing to them to stop it. Yolelo said that these resolutions were taken after the MEC for Transport, Xolile Nqatha, brought together leadership from the taxi industry under the banner of SANTACO in the province, and their counterparts in the bus industry.
Police spokesperson, Captain Siphokazi Mawisa, confirmed that a case of malicious damage to property has been opened for investigation at Willowvale Police Station, following the burning of two buses at Mendu locality outside Willowvale.
“It is alleged that the bus company security guard was sitting inside the bus when he heard the noise outside and he went out to check what was happening. When he was checking two unknown masked males appeared and pointed firearms at him and instructed him to take a fuel container to the bus. When he was about to get inside the bus he dropped the container and ran away to report to the neighbours,” said Mawisa.
She said that when he came back with the community members, two buses were engulfed in flames. Mawisa said that the circumstances surrounding the incident form part of the investigation.
