After a string of assaults and fatal attacks on Intercape bus drivers, heads of the bus company, the South African National Taxi Council, police and the provincial Department of Community Safety and police oversight are set to discuss the violence before the transport committee.
Earlier this year, Intercape has called on President Ramaphosa to intervene after an Intercape bus driver was shot dead outside the Cape Town depot. It then also became known that there had been more than 150 attacks directed at the long-distance coach industry in the space of 13 months. Both staff and passengers have been harmed in these attacks.
According to Eyewitness News, The Democratic Alliance’s Ricardo Mackenzie said bus operators have alleged that taxi associations are behind recent attacks.
“This blatant and senseless violence must come to an end in order to prevent any further bloodshed,” said Mackenzie.
As reported by News24, taxi associations reject claims that they are involved in the violence.
Andile Khanyi, spokesperson for the Cape Organisation for the Democratic Taxi Association (CODETA), said that their Cape Town based taxis are “well-disciplined” and have no motive to attack since they mainly service the route between Khayelitsha and Cape Town city.
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Picture: Intercape / Facebook