Burning buses: becoming the norm

At least five people were killed in the violence accompanying the Cape Town taxi strike that began on 1 August. Individuals set fire to buses and cars, blocked roadways, destroyed property, and threw rocks. SHARMINI NAIDOO rues this situation, which has devastated the bus industry.

The South African Constitution is considered to be one the most progressive in the world. According to the Minister of Economic Development, Ebrahim Patel, “The foundation of the South African model of development is the Constitution[.] It is deeply empowering and espousing fundamental human values. It is the common frame within which we can organise our lives and the pacts necessary to secure economic growth and transformation.”

Our Constitution also allows us the right to assemble peacefully and unarmed; to demonstrate, to picket, and to present petitions with regards to the rights of others.

So how, then, can a situation arise after 29 years of democracy, wherein a taxi strike leads to brutal attacks on bus drivers, loss of life, stoning and torching of buses, burning of tyres, violence and intimidation, blockages of major roads, go-slow convoys, and random looting in malls? The latter at the very least is an act of pure criminality with no connection to any strike issues!

In truth, little to no respect is paid to the values of our Constitution in terms of human life or the freedom to pursue and participate in economic activities.

A new bylaw introduced by the City of Cape Town, which gives power to traffic officers to impound vehicles for traffic violations instead of issuing fines, led to a standoff between the taxi associations and the city – and mayhem for the bus industry.

Whether the province actually has the right to impose such legislation and overrule the regulations contained in the National Road Traffic Act (NRTA) remains to be seen and will have to be tested in a court of law.

Since the start of the strike, more than 100 Golden Arrow buses have been damaged and nine buses were completely burnt out. Inhumane acts of violence and intimidation have been committed on innocent bus drivers, including one driver who was shot in the leg and hospitalised for surgery.

Although the authorities have been working closely with the industry and are trying their best to bring the violence to an end, it is not enough.

This disastrous trend is fast becoming a norm whenever there is a protest or strike in the country – be it for lack of service delivery or any other discord – as buses are easy targets. Sadly, a bus going up in smoke generates media hype and the publicity needed for the said cause.

These incidents come at a serious cost to an industry already saddled with high running costs and small margins. Disregarding the millions of rands, few even realise the damaging psycho-emotional impacts on staff, productivity, and morale as a result of the trauma and fear of such attacks.

This has now forced operators to take a legal stand to protect their employees and assets. Last year, the Eastern Cape High Court ordered then-Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula and Eastern Cape Transport MEC Xolile Nqatha to take “positive steps” to put a stop to disgruntled taxi operators and attacks on a long-distance bus operator. The bus company successfullyobtained another court order in June this year, compelling the Minister of Transport and the Eastern Cape MEC for Transport to work with the South African Police Service (SAPS) to develop a comprehensive safety plan.

As the voice of the bus industry, SABOA plays a vital role in unifying and protecting the industry. At its year’s annual conference at Nasrec on 5 and 6 September, in collaboration with Automechanika and Futuroad 2023, industry players will come together to deliberate and discuss solutions to the blatant attacks against bus operators.

Karin de Jongh, legal advisor of Golden Arrow Bus Services, will share some of the strategies, experiences, and lessons learnt from the recent court challenges with government and operators, in order to address the violence and intimidation in the industry.  

It is clear that a longer-term proactive solution needs to be found. The association already tabled plans for a violence avoidance strategy at last year’s conference and waits for the strategy to gain traction and buy-in from the SAPS for a formal and permanent Joint Action Committee with the industry.