Johannesburg - Transport Minister Dipuo Peters on Tuesday condemned the burning of buses in Mamelodi, Tshwane as violent protests against the selection of mayoral candidate Thoko Didiza engulfed the metro.
Peters said 19 buses belonging to Autopax, an agency of the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (PRASA), were set alight.
“The busses were set alight yesterday afternoon [Monday] on their way to the depot and drivers had to flee for their safety. This cannot be allowed in a modern democracy such as ours, where individuals with criminal motives undermine government commitment to provide much needed public transport services to the communities of Mamelodi and the affected neighbouring towns,” Peters said.
Autopax buses took over the Mamelodi routes from Putco after the latter withdrew its bus services in Mamelodi last year.
Peters urged the police and Autopax to investigate the incidents.
“This deliberate destruction is condemned, law enforcement agencies are called upon to arrest perpetrators of this senseless destruction of property. PRASA and Autopax are called upon to conduct an indepth investigation into the nature, extent and severity of these acts of disdain.”
ANA