Intercape bus service faces uncertain future over safety concerns

Posted by Tsoku Maela on 14 November 2022

Intercape driver Bangikyaha Machana was killed on 25 April 2022. An unidentified man casually walked towards him as he exited Inercape’s Cape Town Industria depot, and fired over a dozen bullets at the bus before fleeing the scene.

Machana’s killing is not an isolated case, and the service operator might face difficulties if bookings take a dip due to safety concerns.

More than 150 acts of violence and intimidation toward bus drivers and passengers were reported to the South African Police Service (SAPS) between January 2021 and February 2022. At least 128 took place in the Eastern Cape.

In August 2022, Intercape pleaded with Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Tourism to intervene after briefing them on the onslaught against drivers and passengers – allegedly perpetrated by members of the taxi industry.

‘Taxi operators who have now bought buses have systematically pushed us out of certain towns in the Eastern Cape and we are now only allowed to operate from Mthatha’, said Intercape CEO Johann Ferreira to IOL.

Intercape is now barred from operating in Ngcobo, Butterworth, Tsomo, Ngqamakhwe, Cofimvaba and Komani. The company appealed again to the Eastern Cape High Court in September 2022 in a bid to force the government to provide safety in dangerous areas of the province.

Still, transport Minister Fikile Mbalula rebuffed the court’s order instructing his department to work with police on this matter.

‘Intercape is the epicentre of this campaign, [however] it is Intercape’s intention to continue to operate safe, reliable and efficient inter-provincial coach service,’ said Ferreira.

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