Cape Town – Bus passenger safety remains compromised as security measures to tackle attacks are yet to be implemented.
This while the working committee has been hailed for developing “proactive security measures” to tackle attacks on Golden Arrow Bus Service (Gabs) passengers.
Since the start of the year, until April, 93 armed robberies took place on buses – 25 of which were recorded last month.
A total of 224 robberies were recorded last year, and the bus service suffered R102 million in damages.
The Standing Committee on Transport and Public Works was briefed by the committee, comprising the City, Gabs and the provincial department of Transport and Public Works, yesterday.
Transport and Public Works official Faizel Williams said while MyCiTi and Dial-a-Ride suffered damages due to service delivery protest actions, Gabs was also faced with armed robberies.
“Commuter bus operations and their passengers are unsafe, as they have been subjected to increased attacks over the last few years. We have developed five projects to deal with this and are working to implement them soon.
“The first is to focus on high visibility patrols, that will reduce opportunities for crime, and improve surveillance. We also want to improve perception of safety and change attitudes towards the public transport system.
’’We have been informed that robberies are taking place because there is a belief that these are government buses and they are under insurance,” said Williams.
Gabs general manager Derick Meyer and safety and security mayoral committee member JP Smith, who expressed frustration, said high conviction rates would send a strong message to the perpetrators, however, “there was not a single one”.
The ANC’s Lulama Mvimbi suggested that the committee also includes other stakeholders, such as community-based structures. This is after it was heard that passengers, who were affected by the robberies, were refusing to open cases with police as they were scared.
DA spokesperson for Transport and Public Works Daylin Mitchell said collaboration between the three parties has made strides in forming proactive measures to improve commuter safety.
“Surveillance technology and the deployment of Law Enforcement Officers on buses is currently under way, yielding good progress. Other projects also include provision for safe payments and increasing patrols in crime-prevalent areas,” said Mitchell.
He also hailed the province’s plan for the first South African provincial Transport Authority.
“This stands to support an environment of coordination and harmonisation of systems, ready to assist in the safety aspect of public transport.
’’However, it must be pointed out that, as with many issues in our country, the problem predominantly lies with criminal justice and the lack of convictions,” concluded Mitchell.
Cape Times