Sibanye buses are being targeted during peak hours.
Image: Facebook
Commuters from Atlantis have been left rattled as several bus stonings have left them fearful to use the Sibanye bus service.
The Sibanye buses are being targeted during morning and evening peak periods, and several incidents have since been reported.
Buses are being targeted in Du Noon. Several people have sustained injuries during these attacks.
Commuters have taken to social media to express their feelings of being unsafe and the dangers involved in traveling to work.
Speaking to IOL, Sibanye’s spokesperson, Bronwen Dyke-Beyer confirmed the incidents.
“Sibanye Bus Services can confirm that our buses were targeted in four separate incidents: May 22, May 28, June 2, and June 3. The incidents have predominantly occurred during peak commuter periods, approximately between 5.30am to 7.30am and 5pm to 7pm. Criminal cases have been opened for each incident, and investigations are ongoing,” she said.
The bus company has confirmed that passengers were present during the majority of the reported incidents.
“Occupied buses being targeted creates an unacceptable safety risk for our passengers, drivers, and other road users. Three passengers sustained facial and head injuries,” Dyke-Beyer said.
With the incidents, the question arises whether these are targeted attacks.
“The frequency, location, and repeated nature of these incidents are concerning and have been formally raised with the relevant authorities. The recurring pattern of attacks concentrated within a particular operational area suggests these are not isolated incidents and warrants urgent intervention by law enforcement. We do believe that these are targeted attacks aimed at discouraging passengers from choosing Sibanye as their preferred method of transport,” Dyke-Beyer said.
It has also been confirmed that the current targeted attacks have resulted in commuters abstaining from making use of the bus service.
“Sibanye Bus Services has formally requested urgent intervention from SAPS, Metro Police, Traffic Services, and the City of Cape Town Safety and Security Directorate. We continue to cooperate fully with investigations and provide supporting information, including incident reports, CCTV footage, and operational information where available,” Dyke-Beyer said.
According to the bus company, to date, 30 bus windows have been damaged across the recorded incidents.
“The total financial impact remains under assessment and includes vehicle repairs, operational disruption, and associated costs. However, our overriding concern remains the safety and well-being of our passengers and employees and preventing a situation in which someone is seriously injured. These brazen attacks on people who are just trying to travel to work and school are intolerable and cannot be allowed to become the norm. Using violence to coerce commuters into using specific modes of public transport should not simply be accepted,” Dyke-Beyer added.
IOL