Friday, May 6, 2011

Commuters Torch Buses

May 5 2011


Angry commuters set alight two buses in Rustenburg on Thursday, North West police said. 

Captain Adele Myburgh said commuters were unhappy that there were not enough buses to take them home. 

Two buses were completely burnt down and one was stoned.
“The situation is tense. As we speak, the police are monitoring the situation,” she said. 


Commuter Lebogang Pule said the last bus left for her home village of Manamela, in the Madikwe area, at 1pm. 

“I bought a monthly ticket at R600 and a scholar ticket for R280. Now I cannot go home, because there are no buses,” she said. 

“We are not fighting with the bus company. All we want is to be treated with respect. 

“I do not know where will I sleep tonight,” she said, adding that she had no alternative transport. 

Another commuter Itumeleng Modise, from De Brak, said they were angry at not being given alternative transport after the company's buses were pulled off of the road. 

“Some of us have bought monthly tickets, and now we do not have transport to take us home,” he said. 

He said the bus company had sold them tickets even though it knew its vehicles were not fit to be on the road. 

Rustenburg municipal spokesman Butler Matlapeng said 49 buses belonging to Bojanala Bus Service were impounded for operating illegally after their permit expired. 


The bus company operates in the greater Rustenburg area, transporting people to villages around the city. 

Captain Myburgh said no arrest had been made.



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