It was today revealed at a meeting of the Standing Committee of Transport and Public Works that more than 200 GABS buses are stoned per month and 6-8 armed robberies take place per week, including some instances of shots fired at buses and depots petrol bombed. The recent attacks on GABS have resulted in a loss 12 Golden Arrow busses due to protest, resulting in a total loss of just under R29 million.
Daylin Mitchell, DA Western Cape Committee Spokesperson on Transport and Public works said this is of tremendous concern, given the needs of residents to enjoy safe, reliable transport, and that the Western Cape Government subsidises the operations of GABS.
For these reasons, I will submit parliamentary questions to the Provincial Minister of Transport & Public Works, Bonginkosi Madikizela, requesting a comprehensive list of all attacks on public transport buses. In each instance, we seek clarity on whether or not an arrest was made, a charge laid, and a conviction finalised.
At the standing committee, the severity of the arson attacks and violence highlighted the need, above all else, for safety measures and criminal justice reforms to be put in place. It was thus further noted that the nationally-managed Traffic Courts are overwhelmed, with cases being rolled over or struck from the roll. Inadequate resourcing of these courts discounts the work done by City and the province. The committee therefore resolved to engage with the relevant Members of the Nationally Assembly in this regard.
I will further request an update from Minister Madikizela on the status of the Provincial Traffic Act and provincial road traffic regulations, as highlighted by representatives of the City of Cape Town as necessary tools for transport management.
I welcome the Western Cape Government’s raising of the issue of public transport safety on all relevant platforms and commend the identification of a public transport inspectorate in the province as a potential solution in the long-term.
The DA in the Western Cape remains committed to creating a safer environment for all residents within the province.
