Bid to avert outright Mamelodi transport war

A police car escorts an Autopax bus out of the Mamelodi Putco bus depot. Picture: Masi Losi

A police car escorts an Autopax bus out of the Mamelodi Putco bus depot. Picture: Masi Losi

Published Jul 5, 2015

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Johannesburg - A public meeting is to be held on Sunday in Mamelodi, east of Pretoria, to engage the community following the stoning of buses and violent attacks against some bus drivers in the area during the past week.

Police reinforcements were being brought into the area from Friday after escalating violence resulted in a Putco bus being shot at as minibus taxi owners continued to oppose the introduction of the Autopax bus service.

Autopax is a state-owned entity and wholly-owned subsidiary of the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) and has adopted the bus routes, timetables and rates operated by Putco.

Police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Lungelo Dlamini confirmed that shots had been fired at a Putco bus on Friday and five people had been injured.

The driver of the bus and four passengers were injured and taken to hospital.

“A task team of detectives and crime-intelligence officers are already at work to bring those who were responsible for violence to book and they will face the full might of the law,” Dlamini said.

Three other buses were damaged on Friday, bringing the number damaged to seven since Wednesday, when the service was implemented.

Putco cancelled its contract in Gauteng for eight routes, citing financial loss.

Mamelodi was one of the routes dropped. Autopax was appointed to fill the void, much to the dismay of minibus-taxi owners in the area, who questioned how Autopax was able to get permits while they have to wait a long time.

The Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport signed a three- month contract with Autopax to render services in Mamelodi, Midvaal and Kathorus after Putco informed the provincial department about its intention to cease operations in these areas.

Gauteng Premier David Makhura, who visited the area accompanied by Tshwane Mayor Kgosientso Ramokgopa and Gauteng MEC for Transport Ismail Vadi on Friday, has condemned the violence.

He called on law-enforcement authorities to ensure the perpetrators were brought to book.

He said the government would not allow taxi operators to threaten the community.

“We will not allow anyone to hold the community to ransom,” said Makhura.

He said the government would not be forced by taxi operators, who resorted to violence, to pull out Autopax.

“Autopax is going to continue to operate here.

“People will (be allowed to) choose whether they will use buses, rail or taxis,” added Makhura.

The Sunday Independent

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