Two Golden Arrow buses were torched in Phillipi on Monday morning. According to Golden Arrow Bus Service (GABS), a petrol bomb was thrown by assailants using darkness and the homes around them as cover.
‘’Golden Arrow can confirm that one of our buses was set
alight at Duinefontein and Govan Mbeki just before 7am. Reports from the scene
suggest that a petrol bomb was thrown by assailants using darkness and the
homes around them as cover. The fire was extinguished quickly by law enforcement
and traffic services but eight passengers were injured in the attack and are
receiving medical attention,’’ said Bronwen Dyke-Beyer, GABS spokesperson.
‘’A fire on a second bus was quickly extinguished and no
injuries were reported in that incident. Diversions are in place. These attacks
are callous and extremely dangerous and cannot simply be accepted as the norm,’’
she added.
PICTURE SUPPLIEDThe Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Western Cape strongly
condemned the act, saying ‘this heinous attack is not only criminal but also a
direct assault on public infrastructure and the safety of our residents.’
‘’Violence has no place in our society. Such acts deepen
fear, disrupt essential services, and put countless lives at risk. We reaffirm
our full support for law enforcement agencies and call for the swift arrest and
prosecution of those responsible. There is no justification for endangering
lives and damaging critical transport infrastructure. Violence must never be
used as a means to express frustration. I urge all residents to use peaceful,
lawful channels to raise their concerns and to work with us to find real, lasting
solutions. The safety of commuters must remain our top priority,’’ said Prof.
Nomafrench Mbombo, MPP, DA Western Cape Spokesperson on Mobility.
Mbombo acknowledged that communities may face legitimate
frustrations around transport and service delivery, but says resorting to
violence only undermines efforts to improve conditions and places even more
pressure on strained resources.
‘’Ensuring a safer, more reliable public transport sector requires the collective commitment of all stakeholders, including commuters, civil society, and transport operators. We must stand united in condemning such attacks and work together with government to keep our transport systems safe, accessible, and dependable for all,’’ said Mbombo.
Done by: Mitchum George
Comments