51 Putco buses destroyed in the Nkangala district arson attack that resulted in R150 million in damages. Picture: Supplied
With estimated losses exceeding R150 million due to the arson attacks that destroyed 51 Putco buses in the Nkangala district on Monday night, the company has suffered a significant setback. However, it has assured commuters that more buses will be made available.
Speaking to The Star, Putco spokesperson Lindokuhle Xulu revealed that the company suffered losses exceeding R150 million due to the arson attacks, and some employees were assaulted in the process.
“The company is estimated to have lost over R150m in terms of this arson attack; we also had injuries on some of the employees. One was shot in the leg and the other was hit with a chair on the head and two security guards were subdued and after that, they were poured with diesel,” Xulu said.
He added that the residents helped extinguish the fires which spread, attempting to save both the buses and the people inside. He added that the heinous crimes have severely impacted customers, forcing them to endure overcrowding due to the limited number of buses still in operation.
Xulu further said that, with the support of Putco's managing director, Franco Pisapia, they have already identified additional buses to be allocated to the affected areas.
“What we have been able to do through the managing director is that we have already identified over 50 buses in our pool that will be allocated in this area so that we can get back to normal operations,” he said.
Martlé Keyter, MISA’s Chief Executive Officer, also highlighted the broader impact of the arson attacks on buses and public transport, noting that commuters have been facing challenges with reliable transport services.
“There is something very sinister about these attacks. For years the people of Kwa-Mahlangu, Moloto and Hammanskraal have been struggling with reliable and adequate bus services. For the past few months, the embattled state-owned North West Star bus service has been unable to provide a service to commuters in and around Hammanskraal, running in arrears with the payment of salaries to its staff.
“The result is that the poorest of the poor have to pay R150 per day and more for taxis to get to work and back. This situation is affecting even more commuters after the bizarre arson attack.”
Keyter added that there have been no major arrests related to the arson attacks that crippled the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa).
“To date, South Africa has seen no major arrests, prosecutions, or links made relating to the spree of arson attacks five years ago that brought the services of Prasa, the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa, to its knees and sabotaged its ability to render services in the Western Cape.
“This is unacceptable. The majority of MISA’s more than 69,000 members in the retail motor industry is dependent on affordable public transport to get to and from work,” says Keyter.
Police in Mpumalanga have since arrested two suspects, aged 29 and 37, in connection with the arson attacks.
The two men were arrested on Tuesday evening after a coordinated effort by the team assembled under the leadership of acting provincial police commissioner Maj-Gen Zeph Mkhwanazi.
“The suspects were apprehended this evening (Tuesday) following a coordinated effort by the team that was assembled under the leadership of the acting provincial commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Major General Zeph Mkhwanazi,” said provincial police spokesperson, Brigadier Donald Mdhluli.
Xulu also commended law enforcement for their swift action in apprehending the suspects and recovering crucial evidence, including cell phones and a firearm.
“We commended the police for the fast job they were able to do, and according to the police they are still searching for more suspects.”
The Star
masabata.mkwananzi@inl.co.za