Provincial authorities have lambasted the attack and destruction of vehicles, including four Golden Arrow Buses (Gabs), in Nyanga last week.
Commuters had to run for their lives and seek alternative transport when buses in and around Nyaga came under attack allegedly from disgruntled taxi operators on Thursday 25 August.
At least three buses were reportedly petrol bombed on Govan Mbeki Drive, while a fourth one was set alight at the corner of Eisleben and Sheffield roads.
The attacks reportedly came in the wake of a clampdown by law enforcement officials on amaphela (small taxis) operating without valid permits.
A total of 21 vehicles were nabbed by the officials for illegally operating in the area or for contravention of their operating conditions.
The City’s mayco member for Safety and Security JP Smith said the violent attacks erupted just hours after the start of an integrated enforcement operation involving public sector vehicles.
He said officers impounded 21 vehicles in terms of the National Land Transport Act.
“The violence that followed is no coincidence. This appears to be the modus operandi every time that our enforcement services move into this area, in particular to do their jobs. The last such incident was recorded in March this year. And just over a year ago we witnessed similar violence in the Nyanga area. This level of lawlessness is unacceptable and we will not be deterred. It cannot be the case that a small group of instigators want to hold us hostage and escape accountability for their actions each and every time. Enforcement occurs throughout the city, and the law has to be applied equally to all,” said Smith, adding that a truck belonging to the City’s Urban Mobility Directorate was also attacked.
Gabs spokesperson Bronwen Dyke-Beyer confirmed the attacks on their buses.
“In the first incident no injuries were reported. But in the second incident our driver suffered head injuries. Information that is available to us currently linked to a traffic operation that occurred earlier on Thursday 25 August in the area in which a number of taxis were impounded,” said Beyer.
She stated that the brazen violence is unacceptable and urged the authorities to fulfil their mandate to ensure the safety of their drivers and passengers.
Efforts to get a comment from Cata’s spokesperson Mandla Hermanus were unsuccessful as he didn’t pick up his phone. He also failed to respond to a WhatsApp message that we sent to him.
Provincial police spokesperson Sgt Wesley Twigg said there are no arrests yet.
“The investigation into this matter continues,” said Twigg.