Putco has confirmed that the fire which broke out on Monday evening at four of its depots in Mpumalanga was a deliberate act of arson.
Putco confirms police are investigating arson
In a statement released this morning, the company described the incident as a “coordinated attack” that caused extensive damage to its operations and left two employees injured.
“Putco regrets to confirm the occurrence of arson at four of its depots across Mpumalanga,” the company said.
“Initial reports indicate that on Monday evening, 27 January 2025, an unknown group of assailants ambushed and bound security at the Moloto depot before setting buses alight and opening fire inside the depot.”
The attackers injured two staff members during the assault.
“One employee was shot in the leg, and another was struck on the head with a chair,” Putco confirmed.
The violent attack, which began at the Moloto depot, spread to depots in Wolwekraal, Siyabuswa, and Vaalbank overnight, resulting in approximately 47 buses being destroyed in total.
Putco made it clear it was cooperating with authorities.
“The company is fully cooperating with law enforcement authorities in the ongoing investigations.”
The company urged police to act swiftly to bring those responsible to justice, as the scale of the attack has severely impacted its operations.
Is Putco operating as normal?
Despite the damage caused by the attacks, Putco assured commuters that its services would continue.
“Buses are continuing to operate in the affected areas under heightened supervision,” the company said, adding that every effort was being made to minimise disruptions for the over 130,000 passengers who rely on their services daily.
The arson attack has raised fresh concerns amid Putco’s ongoing dispute with the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport (DRT).
Last year, Putco secured an interim court interdict against the DRT’s attempt to reduce subsidies by over R20 million per month, cut 212 buses from its fleet, and lay off 400 employees.
The company warned that such actions would cause “drastic and irreparable consequences” for its operations, commuters, and employees.
While it is unclear whether the arson attack is connected to these tensions, the incident has placed further strain on Putco’s operations.
With law enforcement investigating the motives behind the attack, questions remain about the stability of the public transport sector, especially as essential services continue under heightened security.
“Despite the challenges, we are committed to ensuring uninterrupted service for our passengers,” Putco reiterated.