A long distance bus travelling from Mthatha to Cape Town came under heavy gunfire on Wednesday afternoon, leaving one woman dead and two people wounded along the R61 between Cofimvaba and Ngcobo.
The attack happened at around 4pm when unknown gunmen opened fire on a Makalala Trans bus, riddling the vehicle with bullets in what authorities are calling a deliberate ambush. The co driver is among the injured and both survivors were rushed to hospital for urgent medical care.
The Eastern Cape Department of Transport strongly condemned the shooting on Thursday. Transport MEC Xolile Nqatha described the attack as senseless, barbaric and completely unacceptable, saying such violent acts threaten the safety of passengers and the stability of the public transport sector.
We cannot allow such acts of violence to go unpunished, Nqatha said. Those behind this heinous attack must be brought to justice. The safety of our people and our transport system cannot be compromised.
Read | Intercape bus driver shot on the N2 in Cape Town
Nqatha noted that the shooting comes at a time when long distance travel demand is at its seasonal peak. He also raised concerns that the incident may be linked to unfair competition or turf related disputes within the industry.
He called on law enforcement agencies to intensify their investigation and urged community members to come forward with any information that may help track down the attackers.
The right of every citizen to use transport of their choice must be respected and protected, Nqatha added. Violence and intimidation have no place on our roads or in our communities.
The department conveyed its condolences to the family of the deceased passenger and wished the injured a speedy recovery as investigations continue.
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