Staff Reporter.
Intercape believes the attacks on its vehicles and drivers have escalated since it started speaking out about the alleged extortion by “rogue taxi associations”.
The latest incident involves the killing of driver and Lower Crossroads resident Bangikhaya Machana, who died days after the attack. His memorial service was held on Tuesday.
Machana’s death is one of the tragedies that have affected the coach company, which has come under attack over the past year, with about 150 attacks recorded.
In the recent violent attacks in Gauteng, last Thursday, a driver had a narrow escape when shots were fired from a sedan vehicle at the bus en route from Pretoria to Mthatha on the M2. Passengers were transferred to another bus after the driver was able to pull over when police responded at the scene.
In another incident on Friday night, a gunman allegedly fired shots from a bridge at the Geldenhuys Interchange from the M2 to join the N3.
Intercape chief executive Johann Ferreira said: “We could no longer keep quiet about the extortion and violence directed at Intercape and the long-distance coach industry in this country and we made a public appeal to President Cyril Ramaphosa and government and this has since resulted in an escalation of attacks against Intercape coaches … These gunmen and the murderers of our employee in Cape Town are out there walking freely and brazenly and think nothing of shooting at innocent people, “said Ferreira.
Ferreira said the company was engaging with the SAPS at the National Joint Operational Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS) level in a bid to address the violent attacks.
“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 said.
Anyone with any information relating to Machana’s murder can contact Crime Stop anonymously on 08600 10111.