CITY OF TSHWANE DENOUNCES BUS ARSON: URGENT PLEA FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT ACTION.

Written by: Mapaballo Borotho

The Tshwane Bus Services (TBS) bus was, on Friday morning set alight in Olievenhoutbosch.

This happened after the backdrop of the City’s administration acting against bus drivers who participated in an illegal strike.

Workers affiliated with the South African Municipal Workers’ Union downed tools in July over non-payment of salaries. The city of Tshwane says the striking employees have caused havoc in the city, over the past few months, burning down the city vehicles and infrastructure.

City of Tshwane’s MMC for transport Katlego Mathebe said such criminal acts do not only undermine the department’s efforts to provide reliable and affordable public transport to commuters but threatens the safety of dedicated bus drivers and commuters.

“I encourage the security cluster to continue to do more to ensure that the perpetrators face the full force of the law and to restore order,” said Mathebe.

“Over the past weeks, the city has been working closely with the security cluster and devising strategies to ensure that we get our buses back on the road to serve residents. We have recorded a gradual increase in our TBS shifts, from 52 of 160” she said.

Mathebe says the city will offer the necessary support services to the affected bus driver and temporarily suspend the Olievenhoutbosch shift today until the South African Police Service is finished with its investigations.