KwaNdebele – Commuters relying on PUTCO buses in Siyabuswa, Maphotla, and Valbank were left stranded after 51 buses belonging to the Public Utility Transport Corporation (PUTCO) were set alight on Monday night, January 27, in what appears to have been a targeted arson attack.
According to reports, 16 buses were burnt in Kwamhlanga, while 35 were reduced to ashes in Siyabuswa, including 18 in Maphotla and 17 in Thabana.
This has severely affected commuters, many of whom were forced to make alternative travel arrangements to get to work.
Ronewa Mampuru, from Siyabuswa, was unable to go to work on Tuesday, only her second day on the job, after starting on Monday.
She told Highveld Chronicle that she spent hours waiting for a bus, but to no avail.
“Buses have insurance, but our jobs will be lost, and they will hire others while we are stuck here,” she expressed her frustration.
“I don’t have cash. I bought a monthly ticket. Now I’m not going to work,” she added.
Preliminary investigations by the police reveal that a group of armed suspects, driving a white Toyota Quantum, stormed into a bus depot at Moloto in Kwamhlanga and held employees at gunpoint.
The suspects, who wore black clothing and covered their faces with balaclavas, are alleged to have shot and injured one security guard during the incident. It was at this time that the 16 buses were set alight. The injured security guard was taken to hospital, where he is receiving medical treatment.
Meanwhile, at Maphotla in Siyabuswa, 10 suspects assaulted a security guard and torched 18 buses. The security guard was also taken to hospital for treatment.
In Thabana, Siyabuswa, another group of 10 suspects entered the bus depot and torched 17 buses.
Police, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel were alerted to the incidents. Cases were opened related to the horrific events.
“Police are investigating various charges, including malicious damage to property, attempted murder, and assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm,” said Mpumalanga police spokesperson Donald Mdluli.
Police have since increased visibility in the affected areas following the attacks.
Lindokuhle Xulu, Media Relations Manager at PUTCO, said that despite the extensive damage, some buses are continuing to operate in the affected areas under heightened supervision. He also urged commuters to make alternative transport arrangements.
Xulu further stated that the company had been experiencing tensions with taxi drivers in the area. “Some taxi drivers had recently been stopping our buses from operating, but we thought the situation was under control. We hope the police will investigate and determine the cause of the incident,” he said.
Xulu added that PUTCO is committed to adjusting its operations to prevent similar incidents in the future and advised passengers to explore alternative bus options.
MEC for Public Works, Roads and Transport, Thulasizwe Thomo, has called on law enforcement authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of the fires.
“This incident is not only a loss for the bus company but also a severe setback for our communities who depend on this public transport service for their daily commuting,” said MEC Thomo.
“The impact on our residents, particularly in the Nkangala District, cannot be overstated.”
BY: PRECIOUS MASHIANE AND NELISIWE SKOSANA
