Long-distance transport operator, Intercape, has turned to Parliament to shield them from ongoing attacks on their buses since 2019. They first appeared before Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Police on 14 May 2025.
Intercape spokesperson, Lindiz van Zilla, said they want Parliament to compel the police to act and stop the ongoing violence and intimidation against their company.
“Intercape submitted to the Portfolio Committee that despite submitting compelling evidence, police have not made a single arrest and no one has been prosecuted,” said Van Zilla.
The financial implications of the ongoing attacks
During their presentation in Parliament, Intercape told the Portfolio Committee that they had suffered the following losses:
- Over R420 000 spent on medical bills for injured passengers
- R30 million loss of revenue due to being forced to suspend services in certain towns in the Eastern Cape
- R3 million in additional expenditure spent on private security escorts
- R5.5 million in repair costs for damaged coaches
Since then, Intercape has opened over 200 cases with the police in six years. The charges range from murder, attempted murder, intimidation and extortion.
The Portfolio Committee, chaired by Ian Cameron of the Democratic Alliance, heard testimonies alleging that police were lackluster in arresting the perpetrators of the bus attacks.
“The attacks against Intercape are serious and the SAPS’ inadequate response to these attacks – even in the face of court orders ordering them to do so – is a failure by the SAPS in its statutory and constitutional duties,” said advocate Kate Hofmeyr.
She urged the Portfolio Committee to use its powers to convene a public hearing into the the police’s failure. She said key SAPS members should be called to give evidence in the forum in order to hold the police accountable publicly.
Police dispute non-action claims
Senior police management officials denied claims that they were not acting on attacks against Intercape. They said a total of 11 arrests had been made in connection with the attacks.
However Hofmeyr said it was the first time they were hearing about the arrests. She said Intercape bussed their complaints to Parliament because there was inaction. She further said there were court orders instructing SAPS to inform them of progress related to investigations and that had not been done.
“Intercape and the Portfolio Committee urgently awaits further details from the police to verify the
claims related to the arrests and ongoing cases”, said Hofmeyr.
Court woes for Intercape
Intercape first approached the courts in June 2022, wanting the Department of Transport authorities to act swiftly. Despite having nine court victories, no meaningful action has been taken. They said the department still doesn’t comply with very specific orders handed down by the High Court.
Intercape CEO Johann Ferraira said: “This is a blatant case of contempt of court and is being
committed by a government which undertook a sworn oath of office to uphold the Constitution.”
He said government has no respect for the rule of law and is in breach of its constitutional obligations.
Have you witnessed an attack on a long-distance bus – or know someone who has?
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