The Democratic Alliance in the Western Cape condemns the spate of attacks on the Golden Arrow Bus Services (GABS). Over the weekend yet another bus was set alight, this time in Mfuleni, bringing the total number of GABS busses destroyed this year to 9. Each bus is said to run a cost of R2.4 million, bringing the total loss to the bus service at over R20 million.
MPP Daylin Mitchell said: “We cannot allow the torching of buses to continue as it is a vital means of transport for residents to commute to and from work in the province. Through torching buses, vandals contribute to escalating service delivery costs and delays at the expense of residents.
As Chairperson of the Standing Committee for Transport and Public Works in the province, I will call a meeting with the provincial department, the South African Police Service (SAPS), and Golden Arrow in order for residents to be provided with critical information on what is being done to end the attacks on buses and bring perpetrators to book.
I further implore residents with any information regarding vandalism and destruction of public transport to report these issues to the police. The attacks on GABS has also been met with a reward of R200 000 for any information, including video footage of perpetrators, which will lead to the arrest and conviction.”
In August of this year alone, five buses were torched, hindering the job of providing the bus service to residents. The continuation of this blatant disregard for the lives and livelihoods of residents will impacts our efforts to get residents safely back to work.
The DA in the Western Cape remains committed to creating a safer environment for all residents within the province.
