Cape Town - The government is looking at amending conditions of public transport operating licences, which could see operators lose their licence if they are found to have been party to extortion and racketeering activities.
It is also considering declaring a nationwide moratorium on the issuing of all operating licences.
“A countrywide approach is important to undermine the inter-provincial nature of the extortion and racketeering activities that fuel violence and killings,” said Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula.
Mbalula virtually unpacked some of the national interventions to attacks on long-distance bus operators before the portfolio committee on tourism this week.
This comes as Intercape is taking him to court in the Eastern Cape, following pleas by the long-distance coach industry to respond to the attacks that also saw a bus driver being murdered while on duty.
Between January 2021 and February 2022, there were more than 150 shootings, stonings and other acts of violence and intimidation, including 21 shooting incidents in 2022 alone.
The operations of Intercape in Cofimvaba, Dutywa, Butterworth,Ngcobo and Tsomo in the Eastern Cape have since been suspended and it only operates out of Mthatha on the interprovincial route.
Last month Intercape also briefed the portfolio committee on tourism, raising concerns about the threat the violence posed to tourism.
“The attacks on long-distance buses and the intimidation and extortion that accompanies these attacks cannot be characterised as anything else but blatant criminality.
“Extortion has become institutionalised in the public transport space, with the taxi industry being the main culprit. This provides a perverse incentive for conflict and violence.
“These practices are not isolated to the Western and Eastern Cape but widespread across all provinces,” said Mbalula.
He said intermodal conflict has worsened in recent years, beyond long-distance bus operators.
“We are considering measures to reinforce law enforcement interventions that will stem this violence (and) implementing urgent measures to build requisite capacity for municipalities to ensure operating licences are issued on the basis of up-to-date integrated transport plans as required by law.”
Intercape chief executive Johann Ferreira said they were aware of Mbalula’s statements before the committee, but they could not comment due to the upcoming court case.
“The coach company is taking the Eastern Cape Transport MEC and Minister Mbalula to the High Court in Makhanda to compel the government to take positive steps to ensure that reasonable and effective measures are in place to provide for the safety and security of long-distance bus drivers and passengers in the Eastern Cape.”
The matter is expected to be heard on September 19 and 20.
Cape Times