Intercape urges Parliament to act against escalating violence on buses

Long-distance bus operator Intercape has made a desperate appeal to Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Police, citing a complete breakdown in law enforcement response to ongoing violence and intimidation against its operations.

The company appeared before the committee on Wednesday, where it laid out in detail how despite securing nine court orders against various arms of government, no meaningful action has been taken to protect its passengers and staff.

Intercape CEO Johann Ferreira told the committee that over 200 criminal cases had been opened with the police since 2015, including charges of murder, attempted murder, intimidation, and extortion.

Despite extensive evidence, including video footage, witness statements, and the registration numbers of vehicles linked to taxi associations, Ferreira said not a single suspect had been prosecuted.

The attacks, he said, include petrol bombings, shootings, ambushes, and in one case, the murder of an Intercape driver.

In an unexpected turn during the committee meeting, senior police officials revealed that 11 arrests had allegedly been made in connection with the attacks, information that had never been shared with the company or submitted to the courts as required by law.

Advocate Kate Hofmeyr SC, representing Intercape, described this development as deeply troubling, noting that SAPS had failed to comply with court orders requiring them to update both the court and Intercape on the progress of investigations. She urged the committee to convene a public hearing into SAPS’s failure to act and to summon senior police officials to account.

Ferreira said government’s failure to enforce the law amounted to contempt of court and a betrayal of the Constitution.

He accused the Ministers of Police and Transport, their provincial counterparts, and police commissioners of openly defying multiple high court orders.

Intercape first approached the courts in June 2022, when a campaign of violence allegedly driven by rogue taxi associations escalated dramatically.

Among the nine orders granted by the high court are directives compelling the Department of Transport to produce and implement action plans to curb the violence, and requiring the SAPS and Hawks to investigate the attacks as organised crime.

In one instance, the Eastern Cape High Court found SAPS in contempt of court for failing to comply with interim obligations.

Despite this, Intercape said, the state has not taken any visible steps to address the crisis.

The financial impact has also been severe. Intercape said it had paid more than R420 000 in medical bills for injured passengers, lost over R30 million in revenue after suspending services in parts of the Eastern Cape, spent over R5 million on coach repairs, and incurred R3 million in private security costs.

Ferreira said the broader implications of the government’s inaction go beyond Intercape, as safe and affordable public transport options continue to disappear in areas dominated by violent extortion.

Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police Ian Cameron described the presentation as “shocking” and said hundreds of attacks had been documented, including more than 170 incidents involving Intercape and over 100 arson attacks on Golden Arrow buses in just the past 18 months. He said none of these had led to successful prosecutions.

Cameron added that some SAPS members reportedly demanded protection fees from bus companies, effectively becoming part of the extortion network.

"While SAPS and the Hawks debate over whose 'mandate' this is, organised crime syndicates operate freely. Bus operators are forced into 'no-go zones'. Ordinary South Africans lose safe, affordable transport. Businesses bleed millions."

He said the committee would begin a formal process of scrutinising the specific cases raised, with further feedback to follow.

Ferreira warned Intercape will soon bring new contempt of court proceedings against the state.

Cape Times